Sampling

In total 101 value chain actors completed both the value chain and the livelihood questionnaire (TZ: 51, KE: 50). 11 workers (TZ: 6, KE: 5) in the production segment and 7 workers (TZ: 3, KE: 4) involved in transportation were asked the livelihood

9 1 USD = 1300 TSH = 68 KSH

questions only. Finally, the research team carried out the consumer questionnaire by interviewing 16 (TZ: 8, KE: 8) consumers.

Due to shortage of time and the broad research approach the quantitative study sample concerning each value chain step is relatively small. It has to be taken into consideration that the sample size does not aim to fulfil statistical requirements. The quantitative data are related to the qualitative information with examples and thus enable a better understanding of the VC, especially regarding costs, prices, and profits.

Selection of Survey Areas

The collection of empirical data for the analysis of tomato and onion value chains in Kenya and Tanzania took place in selected production areas and marketing centres.

Table 3: Selected Production Areas and Markets

Kenya Tanzania

Production Area Market Production Area Market Tomatoes Kirinyaga District: Due to the fact that the two partner institutions (AVRDC and icipe) are based in Arusha and Nairobi the areas researched are located close to these two cities.

Moreover, AVRDC and icipe form an important source of knowledge and support to contact key resource persons. Furthermore, the study concentrated on large production areas and markets of regional centres in order to collect relevant consistent and comparable data.

In Tanzania the Arusha market was chosen because of its regional relevance and nearness to the AVRDC. The production areas reviewed in Tanzania are all relevant for the Arusha market. With regard to tomatoes the Arumeru¹⁰ District, in particular the area of Ngari Nanyuki and Nduruma, were analysed. The onion production area

10 Arumeru District is now divided in two districts, Arusha and Meru. But as the process was not finished during the research period this report still refers to the “old” Arumeru district area.

of Mang’ola in Karatu District was selected because of its dominant role in supplying the Arusha market and additional importance for cross-border trade to Kenya.

In Kenya two major markets in Nairobi were analysed. Wakulima and Gikomba market are both wholesale and retail markets. Wakulima is the most important market for onions in Nairobi, especially with regard to cross-border trade. Gikomba is an important market for tomatoes.

Mwea Division in Central Province is the most important tomato production area supplying Nairobi market and is located close to Nairobi.

As already mentioned in the study, onion cultivation is less important in Kenya than in Tanzania. Therefore it was not possible to find a comparable onion production area in Kenya. Loitoktok and Kieni West are among the most important onion production sites in Kenya. The latter has been chosen because a great deal of research has already been carried out in Loitoktok, so that interest in acquiring more information about Kieni West region was high. An additional feature of Kieni west Division of Nyeri District are its farmers who are more highly organized into groups than in other areas. Investigating this situation has contributed to a better understanding of the question as to whether well organised farmers have more or less influence on profit and power distribution than non-organised farmers.

Selection of Interviewees

The study team identified different actors of every value chain step in order to conduct interviews with representatives of all important actor groups, e.g. for the marketing step: sellers at markets and at road-side kiosks as well as hawkers.

Considering the small sample, a range of extremes, including actors with widely differing socio-economic backgrounds, have been covered to assess the variance across different actors. At production level respondents were selected and contacted after a transect walk and qualitative interviews with the extension service officer or the village chief. For other value chain steps the snowball principle or random selection was applied. For this the study team either directly asked actors, who named other relevant persons they knew, or asked officials, e.g. at the markets, to make the first contact.

Besides the cultivation of tomatoes or onions, selection criteria at production level were applied to cover a broad mix of farmers. They include the following:

• large-scale and small-scale producer,

• members of farmer groups as well as non-members,

• households with different livelihood situation and

• female headed households.

The value chains’ input and production level has been investigated and is described in depth as far as this is required to understand the entire analysis. Particularly the two partner institutions had already obtained detailed information in this regard.

At trade level mainly sellers and brokers in the wholesale market were interviewed but also intermediaries and brokers from the production areas. In particular, the sample size for brokers is relatively small because they are not keen to reveal their identity.

For the marketing step the study focuses on sellers at the retail markets analysed, taking into consideration those with a permanent stall as well as hawkers, mainly in Tanzania. Additionally, some kiosk owners in the respective cities were interviewed.

In this study transporters refer to lorry drivers and owners who are involved in the transportation of the commodities from the production areas to the markets, carriers who mainly load and unload the trucks and handcart drivers who normally transport the commodities from the wholesale to the retail markets.

Consumers were only interviewed in urban areas, especially in retail markets and in supermarkets. The study team selected male and female consumers as well as young and old ones.

Interviews with onion wholesalers in Karatina, Kenya (Source: SLE-Team)