https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1500-5037
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Abstract
This research is aimed at analysing the determinants of smallholder Potato producers’ market orientation and, their market performance in Tiyo district. For this study about 209 sample smallholder producers were selected randomly from five kebeles (peasant associations) from Tiyo district. The data were collected in 2022 production year. Descriptive statistics and an econometric model of the ordinary least square method were used to analyse the data. The Market Orientation Index of Potato producers was found to be 0.2963 revealed that farmers are moderately market orientated in potato production. The findings revealed that about 58% of the total gross market margin goes to the middlemen while 42% of total gross market margin goes to producers. The important factors including age, family size, farm size, cooperative membership, and livestock ownership excluding oxen and equines were found to be significantly affecting market orientation of smallholder potato producers in the study area. Lack of Fair sale price due to brokers, lack of market information, low price of the product, lack of market, Perishability of the product, poor linkage with other value chain actors, lack of storage facility, and lack of transportation facility were subsequent marketing problems of smallholder Potato producers in the study area The findings of this research can be used for a policy aiming at improving farmers’ cooperative development, illuminating illegal brokers, strengthening market linkages among Potato value chain actors, developing product promotion centre to enhance the development of potato production and marketing which improves farmers’ market orientation and performance in the country.
Reviewing Editor:
Acknowledgements
The TOMATO project team, represented by the dedicated members from Arsi University and Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, wholeheartedly acknowledges the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for its pivotal role in enabling the realization of the TOMATO project. The financial support provided by the esteemed DAAD Award has been instrumental in driving the success of this initiative, for which we are profoundly grateful.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and Arsi University, Ethiopia, for their invaluable contributions and unwavering support in facilitating the practical implementation of the TOMATO project.
Furthermore, we express our gratitude to all those who have collaborated with us, as their dedication has played an integral part in driving the synergy of this and related ventures.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Samuel Weldeyohanis Kifle
Samuel Weldayohanis Kifle is an academic and researcher at Arsi University College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, and he has been a valued member of the institution’s Department of Agribusiness and Value Chain Management Since 2017. Graduating with an MSc degree in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management from Jima University and a BSc degree from Hawassa University in 2011, Samuel’s expertise lies in conducting research on value chain analysis, market orientation, and factors influencing market supply in Ethiopia, with a focus on crops such as coffee malt barley, Potato and Tomato. His research interests extend to value chain finance, market development, price integration, Agricultural entrepreneurial development and others. Since 2021 he was a member of the TOMATO project, funded by DAAD, and he contributes to innovative research initiatives. Additionally, his dedication to entrepreneurship is demonstrated by his training as a Trainer at the Ethiopian Entrepreneurship Development Institute since 2023.
SisayYefru Derbe
SisayYefru Derbe is professionally an Agricultural Economist, and serving as a lecturer and researcher in the department of agricultural economics at college of agriculture and environmental sciences, Arsi University. He holds his MSc and BSc degree in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University and has a long years of academic and research experience both at Adama Science and Technology University and Arsi University. Moreover, he served as a Coordinator of University-industry Linkage in Arsi University for over four years. Currently, he is offering courses for undergraduate students enrolled at Arsi University and also engaged in different research and community service activities with Arsi University as well as with partner universities both from in country and international. In addition, he is currently in charge of coordinating TOMATO Project which is funded by DAAD since 2021. Furthermore, he was certified by UNDP –UNCTAD for EMPERTEC (Entrepreneurship) Training of Trainers (TOT).
Zegeye Tirfe Mamo
Zegeye Tirfe Mamo is an assistant professor of Agricultural Economics at department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture and environmental Science, Arsi University, Ethiopia. He has enough experience in teaching and research. His research interests are topics related to Agricultural Economics such as Economic efficiency, Food Insecurity, Food Quality and Safety, Agricultural Policy, Rural Land planning and Marketing, and Agribusiness Value Chain Management. This paper focused on smallholder farmers, so its finding has an important role as a reference for related research projects that will be conducted somewhere else.
Diriba Shiferaw Geleta
Diriba Shiferaw Geleta (Ph.D., Associate Professor of Horticulture) is an academic with a strong focus on agricultural education and research. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at Arsi University’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, he previously held the position of Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the same institution. With expertise in Horticulture, he has actively contributed to the improvement of education quality in the Department of Plant Sciences. He has played a vital role in the potato project, a collaborative effort between Arsi University and Germany’s Weihenstephen University of Applied Sciences, funded by DAAD. He has also made significant contributions to entrepreneurship and agricultural development through his involvement as a trainer in the GIZ project for development. Furthermore, he has been actively engaged in scholarly activities, serving as an Associate Editor and Reviewer for Arsi University Journal of Sciences and Innovations (AJSI) and as a reviewer for the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS). He is a member of the Ethiopian Horticulture and Coffee Sciences Societies, and his expertise extends to community services and research projects both within Ethiopia and internationally.
Samuel Mezemir Yimenu
Samuel Mezemir Yimenu has a Ph.D. in Food Biotechnology from the University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea, and is currently an Assistant Professor from March 2019–present at the Department of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, Arsi University, Ethiopia. Previously, Head of the Department (April–June, 2014) at Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia. Dr. Samuel has published over 12 peer-reviewed journal articles, 6 scientific papers and 5 poster presentations, and is serving as reviewer of different Journals. Besides, he is serving as UIL and Consultancy Coordinator. Team member in DAAD project ‘TOMATO-project-2021–2024’, Chairperson of Postgraduate Committee (since 2021), and research ethical committee (since 2019). Samuel has consulted LVIA–on the performance evaluation of different prototypes of photovoltaic cell-assisted solar dryers’, on storage and processing of fresh vegetables and fruits (January–March, 2022). His research areas include sustainable food systems, traditional foods bioprocessing and commercialization, food safety, quality, and shelf-life management, Time-Temperature monitoring techniques and prediction modeling.
Bezawit Seifu Woldegiorgis
Bezayit Seifu Woldegiorgis is a Lecturer and researcher at the Food Science and Post-Harvest Technology department in Arsi University. She has worked in teaching, research and consultancy for more than eight (8) years. Her research interest is on postharvest technology and value addition of agricultural commodities.
Dekeba Moges Tola
Dekeba Moges Tola (Ph.D. candidate) is a senior lecturer of Food Science and Technology in Arsi University. As his own research activities, he was and is working in different research activities including: post-harvest loss reduction through cost effective postharvest technologies, process optimization for diverse and balanced nutrients food products, and currently working on exploring underutilized crops toward food and nutrition security as his PhD research work. As a group, he is working on Harnessing of efficient vegetable and fruit production, processing and marketing systems of which our current Article is part of it, and Performance Evaluation of different solar drier technologies for adding value to vegetables and expanding market opportunity.
Anis Dzankovic
Anis Dzankovic has master’s degree Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences. He is a member of Tomato project at Germany.
Bernd Müller
Bernd Müller (Ph.D.) has been the deputy head of the International School since February 2021. In this role, he focuses on the establishment and implementation of further education programmes. In a team with nine colleagues, he manages research and exchange projects with partner universities in Africa and Southeast Asia. He is also responsible for lectures in the study programmes on agriculture and international agricultural management at the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT). His research focus is on food supply chain management. Before joining HSWT in 2018, he finalised his doctoral thesis on agricultural policy at the University of Gießen and managed two agricultural farms in southern Germany. He also worked as a managing director and advisor on organic farming for an organic growers’ association in Germany.