Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Background/Abstract: India is the world’s second-largest tomato producer, and the crop is produced through millions of smallholdings across the country that lack access to remunerative markets. Karnataka is the second largest tomato producing state which accounts for 11.4% of total production where, about 75% of the families in rural and 85% of the families in urban area consume tomatoes every day. This study seeks to map the current organic tomato value chains, identifying and analyzing the factors contributing to organic tomato farmer’s market linkage.

Methods: The survey was conducted in Karnataka state of India, by involving 100 organic smallholder farmers through purposive random sampling drawn from an official list of organic farmers. The data analysed by using SPSS software adopting a logistic regression model.

Findings: Results revealed, organic tomato farmers are unorganized and prevailing tomato value chain models vary from long chains where multiple intermediaries involved to very short where farmers directly sell their products to consumers through online. Considering the growing e-commerce retailing trend in fresh products like tomato, there is enormous potential for linking smallholder producers to market through organized producer’s group in an effective way. Further, allied activities (Dairy), group certification & marketing, frequent extension contacts, accessing market information through mobile phones, were the main determinants for linking smallholder organic tomato farmers to the market.

Applications/Improvement: Results have implications for policy makers, Farmer Producer Organizations and other stakeholders in development of inclusive organic farming specifically tomato farming.

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