VALUE OF TOMATO IN TANZANIA

By KOMBA BRIGIDA BAPRM 47531

Tomato production is an important part of Tanzania’s economy, as well as a food source for its people. Tomatoes are among the vegetable crop grown by small scale farmers for both home use and domestic markets and can be grown all year round.

It is important to note that tomatoes grown under Greenhouse are of a better quality than ordinary ones because they are grown in a controlled environment

Market for Tomatoes

The demand for tomato comes from the following areas

·         Hotels

·         Restaurants

·         Local consumers

·         Schools

·         Institutions

·         Processors for tomato Juice

Ideas about growing Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be grown in the smallest of spaces. For example, in a three foot squared space, you can plant six tomatoes plants.

·         They take between two to three months from seed to ripening.

·         Application of composite manure improves the yield.

·         Mulching using grass is advisable too.

·         The standard spacing for tomatoes is 18 inches.

·         Tomatoes are grown as a sole crop intercropping is not advisable

Varieties of Tomatoes

There are many varieties of tomatoes on the market including the following:

·         Money maker.

·         Heinz.

·         Roma.

·         Marglobe.

·         San-marzano.

·         Amateur rodade.

Diseases and pests that attack tomatoes

The tomatoes are attached by the following diseases:

·         Bacteria wilt,

·         Blights,

·         Blossom and

·         Fungal diseases.

The pests that attack tomatoes include Aphids, Boll worms and Termites.

All the above can be controlled using both natural and artificial measures including the use of specialised pesticides like Dithane and Dursban.

Values from Tomatoes

Tomato crop has the following uses:

·         It is a cash crop

·         It  a food crop which is used in many cooking recipes

·         Tomatoes are nutritious vegetables that provide good quantities of vitamins A and C.

·         It is used to make tomato sauce

Constraints for Tomato Growing

The small scale farmers face the following challenges:

·         Raising right varieties by farmers

·         Lack of training sites for farmers on propagation of right planting materials.

·         Diseases, pests and high costs to combat them

Limited funds to improve farm productivity