Determinants of Formal and Informal Markets Choice among Smallholder Farmers in Berea and Maseru Tomato Markets 

The study assessed factors determining market participation among small-scale tomato farmers in Berea and Maseru districts of Lesotho. Eighty four (84) tomato farmers were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed descriptively using percentage and means and multinomial regression model. Results showed that social capital (0.044) influence participation in the informal tomato markets, while Market information (0.041), membership in farmer organization (0.039), farming experience (0.042) and access to market transport (0.032) influence participation in the formal markets. Collective action enhancing strategies be introduced in order to address the negative effects of the current state of fragmentation in the farming sector.