Economic Analysis of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Marketing in Ondo State, Nigeria

The study examines the economic analysis of tomato marketing in Ondo State, Nigeria. Primary data were used through a well-designed questionnaire. A multistage sampling was used to select 120 tomato marketers in the area. Descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques, and multiple regression were used for the analysis. The results revealed that married females dominate tomato marketers with an average age of 40 years. About 55.0% of them had household sizes that ranged from 4-6 persons with a mean marketing experience of 7.5 years. The products reach consumers through the channels from farmers through wholesalers to retailers. The results of regression showed that sex, purchase price, labour cost, and transport cost are the main determinants of profitability in the area. The significant challenges faced are the high cost of transportation and the lack of storage facilities. Adequate road network and marketing infrastructure should be provided to increase the performance of the enterprise.