Abstract
Tomato (<em>Lycopersicon esculentum</em> Mill) is among the most important vegetables grown in Kenya. Its popularity as a commercial crop is on the rise compared to other cash crops like coffee, due to declining land sizes as it can be grown on small-scale. It is mainly grown in the open-field, but the prevalence of greenhouse tomato growing is also noteworthy. Greenhouse tomato production is less susceptible to diseases and weather conditions. However, the uptake of the greenhouse tomato growing technology has been wanting, with the cost of greenhouse installation and maintenance being quoted as the key impediment. But studies in other places have revealed that in the long run, when entire costs and returns are taken into account, use of the technology is economically viable. Using survey data from 216 tomato producers, this study compared the profitability of greenhouse and open-field tomato production systems in Nakuru-North district. The study used Gross margin and Net Profit to determine and compare the profitability levels for both greenhouse and open-field tomato production systems. The results indicate that the mean net profit/m<sup>2</sup> for greenhouse tomato was more than 10 times higher than that of open-field tomato production system. The study therefore, recommends promotion of greenhouse tomato production for improved smallholder livelihoods.
Highlights
Tomato is an important commercial vegetable crop in Kenya, with a potential for increasing incomes in rural areas, improving living standards and creating employment (Ssejjemba, 2008)
Socio-economic characteristics of tomato growers: This section starts with results on the socio-economic characteristics, followed by results on the profitability analysis using gross margins and net profits of the open-field and greenhouse tomato growers
The differences between the net profits for the two systems were statistically significant at 10% significance level. These results reveal that, the net profit for greenhouse tomato growers was thirteen times higher that of their open-field counterparts
Summary
Tomato is an important commercial vegetable crop in Kenya, with a potential for increasing incomes in rural areas, improving living standards and creating employment (Ssejjemba, 2008). It can be a source of foreign exchange. In Nakuru-North district, tomato is one of the major vegetable crops, in terms of acreage where it is largely grown in the open-field. This production system is prone to the adverse effects of weather like floods, drought, diseases and pests. The sub-sector’s role can only be aptly realized through the adoption of the sub-sector’s high production technology and one that is profitable
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