Profitability, Inputs Influencing Yields and Constraints Faced by the Tomato (Lycoperaicon esculentum) Producers: An Empirical Evidence from Moulvibazar District in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study attempts to investigate the economics of tomato production in Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh. In this study, both economic models of description and statistical analysis were used to analyse the data. It was found that tomato cultivation was a profitable business in the study area. Per hectare production was 42.68 m. Ton. The average gross cost for tomato production was BDT. 2,80,004/ha. Per hectare gross return of small, medium and large farm was BDT. 5,62,172/ha, BDT. 5,57,908/ha and BDT. 5,44,674/ha, respectively. The overall benefit-cost ratio (undiscounted) was found 1.98. Per hectare, the benefit-cost ratio of the small, medium and large farm were 2.09, 1.99 and 1.87, respectively, which indicates that tomato production by small farm was more profitable. It was also found that the use of human labour, insecticides, fertilizer and bamboo had a significant impact on the gross return of tomato production. It was identified from the study that major problems faced by the farmers were: inadequate storage facilities, lack of sufficient credit supply, high interest rate, lack of human labour, inadequate supply of good quality seeds, high prices of fertilizers and insecticides, disease attacks, low price of product during harvesting, lack of marketing facilities and information. Some recommendation was made from the findings of the study, which were, institutional credit support, increase storage facilities, availability of good quality seeds, ensure fair price and control price fluctuation.