Input-output Market Information Access and Methods of Selling Maize and Tomato Products in Bako Tibe and Guto Gida Districts, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study is to describe the marketing system of inputs and outputs; identify weather there is marketing system inefficiencies and integration in inputs and outputs of maize and tomato marketing system in Bako Tibe and Guto Gida districts. From the result, there is an information gap with and among producers, Development Agents, input suppliers, traders, and consumers. The majority of the producers preferred cooperatives to sell their products. According to producers’ reported disease, low price of grain, poor market linkage, shortage of chemicals and unlicensed traders were the major challenges in both maize and tomato production. Shortage of inputs, farmers reluctant to buy inputs, high competition unlicensed traders, weak government support, and shortage of storage were the main challenges in input supply while low quality with poor awareness, low supply, unlicensed traders, brokers and demand fluctuations were also major challenges in traders. Enhancing the technical knowledge and skill of farmers, Development Agents, input suppliers, and buyers need the training to provide effective enabling service to increase market efficiency among the actors. Besides, build the capacity of farmer’s cooperatives in value chains of inputs and outputs, considering market-oriented extension service and improving the enabling environment in promoting competition in agribusiness marketing efficiency.