Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to analyse the value added activities along
the pineapple value chain in selected districts in the Central Region. The study
employed the descriptive survey design while interview schedules were used as
the instruments to collect data from respondents. A sample size of 320, 66 and
169 pineapple farmers, processors and marketers was obtained. The study
revealed that pineapple production and processing were profitable whereas
marketing was not. The study rejected the null hypothesis that there was no
significant difference in the profit share of the actors. Revenue, capital and
planting materials were the determinants of farmer profit; capital, pineapple
fruits and packaging materials were the predictors of the processors’ profit and
transportation, revenue and loading and off-loading cost predicts the profit of
the marketer. The study found that pineapple farmers, processors and marketers
were technically inefficient. In addition, the study revealed that the farmers were
faced with the lack of credit facilities as a major constraint. For the processors,
lack of raw materials was their major constraint whereas the marketers were
faced with fruit perishability as their main problem. Furthermore, the activities
by the pineapple farmers and marketers were highly sustainable while the
activities of the processor was very highly sustainable. The study recommended
among others that NGOs and other partner agencies promote the pineapple
industry in various ways to assist decrease the country's poverty by providing
the actors with credit facilities that will enhance their productivity, profitability,
and sustainability.
