Factors Influencing Tomato Farmers to Adopt Agricultural Technologies in Mlali Mvomero District, Tanzania

This study was carried out in Mlali, Mvomero District, Morogoro. The objective of this study was to identify the key factors influencing the adoption of agricultural technologies among the tomato farmers in Mlali ward. Cross-sectional research design was employed. The study was conducted in five villages in Mlali, employing a structured questionnaire to interview 130 farmers who were selected following a random sampling technique. Additionally, two focus group discussions were conducted each with 10 participants and Key informant interview was conducted with an extension officer. Data collected were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistic was used to assess demographic information and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine factors influencing tomato farmer’s adoption of agricultural technologies. The findings revealed that the key factors influencing technology adoption among farmers include age (p= 0.042), education level (p< 0.05)), cooperative membership (p= 0.001), type of labor (p= 0.023), access to loans (p= 0.041) on which all these factors are significant at (p< 0.05). In conclusion, tomato farmers are more likely to adopt agricultural technologies when they have better access to resources like loans, are members of cooperative, have certain level of education, and are engaged in specific types of labor. The study recommend that local governments should assist farmers in locating market both regionally and internationally, also it is essential that intermediaries receive education on how to assist farmers in accessing market effective.