ValueChain Analysis of onion Market: Case Study of South Bench Woreda, Bench Maji Zone.

Abstract

This study was aimed to examine the value chain analysis of onion market in south Bench woreda in Bench maji, focused on specific objective of factor affecting quantity of onion production supplied to the market by farm, identifying major actor in onion value chain, constraint and opportunity along the onion value chain in both production and marketing. In order to address the objective of the study both primary and secondary source of data were used. The primary data was collected from onion producers and trader (wholesaler and Retailer) using questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD) with key informant and Secondary data were collect from published article and unpublished reports of different level of agricultural bureau. To analyze the collected data both descriptive and inferential analysis were used. Cobb-Douglas production function model (CDM) were used to identify factor affecting quantity of onion production supplied to the market by farm 118 sample of onion producer were selected from five selected kebele through multi stage probability sampling technique and 65 sample of onion trader were selected through simple random method of sampling technique. Out of 118 sample of producer selected from five kebele 52.54% were male headed and 47.46% were female headed and out of 65 sample of trader selected from three market place. The average age of sampled trader was 35.82 with the minimum age of 18 and the maximum of 75 and standard deviation of 12.32. The major constraints that impede onion production at farm level were low supply of input, low irrigation facility, Poor disease control, lack of technical training, high cost of inputs and low demand. Econometric result indicates that quantity of fertilizer utilized, distance from the nearest market, family size of house hold head, educational level of house hold head, farming experience and Credit access were significantly and positively determined the quantity of onion supplied to the market. For over all, the study recommended that those significant variable need to be promoted to boost the amount of the onion market supply. In order to increase the productivity of onion there is need of public, private, research center and farmer themselves working together so as to increase access to improved and disease resistance seed verity