Chapter 1

Introduction

Tomatoes are warm-season crops and are sensitive to high humidity/rain, thus, it is a

seasonal crop requiring special attention. Recent shifts in climate patterns in terms of timing

and amount in rainfall, patterns in air temperature, and the associated extreme events have

caused harm and disruption.

In Bangladesh, distance to the nearest market, access to extension services, access to

price information, trust commitment, transaction specific investment, preferences of

diversification, farm size, transactional uncertainty, and access to producer’s cooperative.

Test established trader’s dissimilation towards governance indicators. The study suggests that

smallholder farmers need to be well organized and coordination mechanisms among all

stakeholders should be increased Dabasis Sharma, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Ismat Ara

Begum, Andrew M mckenzie (2022).

Moreover, in the Philippines, production constraints like most solanaceous crops,

tomatoes are prone to several insects and diseases. Some of its more common perennial pests

include ants, army worms, nematodes, bacterial wilt, and viruses.Desiree M. Hautea,George

W. Norton, (2021)

In the other hand, in marilog district, vegetable farmers generally have only small

land holdings. Because of this, plus an apparent lack of financial capital, it is difficult for

smallholder farmers to meet the large volume demands imposed by institutional buyers and

wholesalers. The small volume and the large variation in quality puts smallholder farmers at a

significant disadvantage when it comes to arranging transport and marketing. RJG Lamban,

RG Bacus, SB Concepcion, PJ Batt, R Murray-Prior, MO Montiflor, AKR dela Cerna (2020).

 Numerous studies about constraints of tomato were already conducted. Yet, very few

studies were conducted using qualitative research design that employs phenomenological

approach. Thus, I was urged to conduct this study to fill the literature’s gap and to uncover

the deep sentiments of tomato farmers.

Purpose of the study

The aim of the study will be identify the constraints of tomato farmers. This main

objectives leads to the hypothesis of the study which can be formulated. The confirmation of

this hypothesis should be done through research and investigation.

Research Questions

The phenomenological analysis aim to analyze and comprehend the constraints of

tomato farmers.

In particular, it attempted to answer the questions:

1. What are the challenges faced by a tomato farmers?

2. How the obstacle were overcome?

Theoretical Lens

This study was anchored to the Understanding the Theory of Constraints Boogaard,

(2022). It is a methodology for identifying the most important limiting factor (i.e., constraint)

that stands in the way of achieving a goal and then systematically improving that constraint

until it is no longer the limiting factor. The ultimate goals of all the farmers is to make profit,

every process has a constraints, focusing and identifying the improvements on any

constraints is the fastest path to increased profitability.

Significance of the study

The result of the study will be a great benefits to the following:

BSA Students. This study will give them information and knowledge on how to

overcome the challenges in growing a tomato.

Parents. The study will benefit the parents for them to be able to empathize on the

experiences and struggles of tomato farmers’

Future Researchers. Finally, future researchers can also gain insights from the result

of this study. This can be used as reference material for a more comprehensive study.

Limitation and Delimitation of the Study

This study focused on the constraints of tomato farmers that planted one thousand

plants and above at Gambodes, Arakan, Cotabato. This includes the content from authorized

people to be able to maintain good relationship between the researcher and the participants.

Operational Definition of terms

Agricultural finance

Constraints

Infectious illnesses

Perennial pests

Perishable nature

Smallholder farmers

Solanaceous crops

Warm-season crops

Constraints-it is the challenges or difficulties that faced by the farmers.

Warm-season crops-

Solanaceous crops

Smallholder farmers

Perennial pests

Infectious illnesses

Perishable nature

Agricultural finance