Factors Influencing Commercialization of Horticultural Crops Among Smallholder Farmers in Juba, South Sudan

Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the commercialization of horticultural crops among smallholder farm households in Juba, South Sudan. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to select a sample of 151 respondents. The survey was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model by STATA analytical software. The results from descriptive statistics indicated that 77.48% of the farmers are female, 36.65% have access to land, 37.09% have access to education at the primary level, 96.69% have no access to market information, 74.17% do not have group membership and only 54.97% have access to irrigation facilities. The findings further revealed that the mean household commercialization index (HCI) was 74.81% and the specific HCI for the selected vegetable crops; tomato, okra and cowpeas were 74.92%, 72.96%, and 74.84% respectively. The results from the Tobit regression model revealed that commercialization of horticultural crops is influenced by the age of the farmer, farming experience, type of land acquisition, the quantity of crop produced, group membership, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities. The finding revealed that the age of a farmer, types of crop produced, type of land acquisition, and group membership are negatively significant whereas, farming experience, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities are positively significant. The study suggests that further evaluation of the factors influencing the commercialization of indigenous and exotic vegetables would be required in rural and peri-urban settings of South Sudan. This study provides an insight for policymakers to formulate appropriate policies that can promote domestic production and accelerate the transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence to the market-oriented production system.

Keywords: Commercialization, Horticultural crops, Peri-urban areas, smallholder, Tobit regression model

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-14-05

Publication date:July 31^st 2021