DETERMINANTS OF TOMATO PRODUCTION COMPETITIVENESS UNDER IRRIGATED AND RAIN-FED SYSTEMS IN GHANA

This paper estimates the competitiveness and the determinants of the competitiveness of tomato farms under irrigated and rainfed technologies from four ecological zones in Ghana. Adopting the PAM model on three-year panel data from 698 tomato farmers, comprising 206 irrigated and 492 rainfed farmers, the paper provides evidence that tomato farms under the two technologies are uncompetitive at the aggregate level, and otherwise at the individual farm level. The study found that access to credit, extension services, yield, fertilizer price, FBO membership, and farmer location have a significant impact on competitiveness. The paper recommends that policymakers prioritize agricultural finance and access to technical and extension services.