Abstract

Developing a road transportation network is crucial for enhancing Tomato's productivity. The road transportation system for Tomato marketing in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria was investigated, using a multistage sampling procedure to select 120 respondents. Data on respondents' socioeconomic characteristics, conditions of the road system, the extent of utilisation of the transportation means, effect of the road system on the marketing of tomatoes, and road system coping mechanisms embraced were collected using an interview schedule; and analysed using percentages, frequency, weighted mean score, Pearson Moment Correlation, and Chi-square at ?0.05. The results showed that respondents were male (82.5%), with mean age (43.0 years), years of marketing experience (17.0 years), and annual income of (?416,500).. The most prevailing conditions of the road system were portholes (100%) and dustiness (96.7%), while the most utilised road transportation means were a Panel van (WMS=3.73), pickup (WMS=2.59), and motorcycle (WMS=1.60). The highest impact of the road transportation system was high cost (WMS=4.36) which was high for 76.9% of the respondents. However, the coping strategies employed were sales to middlemen (WMS=2.85) and selling at ridiculous prices (WMS=2.68); which was low for 65.4%. A significant relationship existed between respondents’ years of marketing experience (r=0.450), members of the Tomato marketing association (?2=320.56), coping strategies (r=-34.48) and utilisation of the transportation means (r=0.664). The road transportation system reduced the respondent’s income despite the various coping mechanisms used. The stakeholders should rehabilitate the road transportation system for hitch-free sustainable marketing of tomatoes.

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