Socio-Economic Study of Tomato Producing Farmers in Lamahi, Dang

Agriculture is the boon for Nepalese Economy. Around 65.6% of
Nepalese people depend on agriculture for their livelihood MoAD
[1].


Introduction
Agriculture is the boon for Nepalese Economy. Around 65.6% of Nepalese people depend on agriculture for their livelihood MoAD [1]. This sector alone contributes about 29% of nation's GDP MoAD [1]. Among the horticulture crops, vegetable sector is emerging as an important sub sector and is contributing significantly to total horticultural GDP. Horticulture alone share 17% of AGDP MoAD, [1].
The Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) designated vegetable crops as one of the priority crops for Nepal's agriculture development.
Different promotional campaign for the commercial production of vegetables has been initiated by government as well as private sector to increase the income of farmers and generation of employment gourd, bottle gourd SINA [5]. Dang district is full of potential in agriculture. Cereal crop along with pulses, oilseed and horticultural crops are grown over here. Tomato is one of the famous horticultural commodities grown over here. The area, production and productivity under tomato in Dang was 1000 ha, 15000 Mt, and 15 Mt/ha respectively SINA [5].

Methodology
Lamahi municipality of dang district being the potential area for vegetable production including tomato was purposively selected Variables like name, sex, age, educational status, occupation, source of income and area under Tomato were analyzed descriptively and presented in frequencies, percentages, means and standard errors together with non-parameter test whenever applicable.

Results and Discussion
In total 60 farmers were considered for my study. They were selected from ward no 3 and 4 of Lamahi municipality. Among them the maximum age of respondent was found to be 74 and minimum age was found to be 19. In case of HHH, the maximum age was found to be 74 and minimum age was found to be 30. After my study in sampled area, farmers of ward no 4 were found to be more educated in comparison to ward no 3. All the HHH were found to be male. In ward no 4, 16.67% HHH were found to be illiterate, 33.33% were able to read and write, 23.33% have been studied up to primary level, other 23.33% have been studied up to secondary level and only 3.33% have been studied up to higher secondary level. In ward no 3, 20% HHH were found to be illiterate, 23.33% were able to read and write, 30% HHH have been studied up to primary level, other 20% have been studied up to secondary level and 6.67% HHH have been studied up to higher secondary level.
The occupational pattern of the HHH provides the knowledge about the household income.
According to the result of study, it can be concluded that agriculture was major occupation in ward no 3 and business was major occupation in ward no 4. In ward no 3, 46.67% of sampled farmers were engaged in Agriculture, 43.33% were engaged in business, 6.67% were engaged in service and 3.33% in others. In ward no 4, 46.67% of sampled farmers were engaged in agriculture, 50 % were engaged in business and 3.33% were engaged in service.
Among 60 sampled farmers, the main source of income was found to be from agriculture in both wards followed by Private source, civil service, business, and remittance. The average land for tomato production in ward no 3 was found to be 2.35 kattha and in ward no 4 it is found to be 1.13 kattha. These two wards were found to be moderately different statistically in case of total area under tomato production. In the sampled area the highest cost was found to be in land preparation cost (including labor cost and machinery cost) followed by harvesting cost, plant protection cost, FYM cost, cost of seeds, irrigation cost and fertilizer cost. In case of FYM amount and irrigation the two wards were found to be highly different statistically.
The total production of tomato in ward no 3 and 4 was found to be 32.51 quintal per HHs and 14.67 quintal per HHs respectively.
Among total production, 29.65 quintal in ward no 3 and 14.42 quintal in ward no was found to be sold respectively. The total income per HHs was found to be Rs 93296.67 and Rs 40715 in ward 3 and 4 respectively. The total cost was obtained by adding all the variable cost incurred during production. In ward no 3 the total cost was Rs 23149.70 and in ward no 4 it was Rs. 12021.30.
The BC ratio in ward no 3 and 4 was found to be 4.03 and 3.38 per HH respectively. When the BC ratio is greater than 1 it is said to be accepted economically so the tomato production business seems to be accepted and profitable in both wards of the sampled area.
2.78 Benefit/Cost ratio of tomato production was found under the plastic tunnel indicating higher profit in this business Gautam et al. [6]. According to Shende

Conclusion
The socio-economic condition of the tomato producing farmers in Lamahi municipality was found to be more than better. The study had found that the tomato production was economically beneficial and highly profitable with the high BC ratio in the study area. Despite some production and marketing problems the Tomato farming was found to be flourishing as sound business in the study area. The most common marketing channel in the study area was found to be; a.
Farmers and consumer b.
Farmers to Wholesaler to Consumer