DETERMINANTS OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTION: THE CASE OF ETHIOPIAN FRUITS & VEGETABLES MARKETING S.C, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The core objective of this study was to measure and analyze the main determinants of fruits and vegetables handling and distribution in the Etfruit, Addis Ababa. To attain the main and specific objectives, of the total retail shops (60) that were found under Etfruit in Addis Ababa city, at three sub - branches (Kera, Afincho Ber and Piassa) data was obtained from a sample of 30 retail shops. Interview schedule was administered to both sales heads and walking customers. Key informant interview was also made to obtain important information from knowledgeable and experienced supervisors. The data collected from these sources was processed and exposed to descriptive and econometric analyses. Logit model was specified to measure the determinants and predict for future relevant actions. The descriptive analysis result revealed that 80% of retail shops found to be poor and the rest qualified as a good in fruits and vegetables handling and distribution status and this would be attained by improving transportation facility, refrigerated storage and conducive retail shops in accessible site. Without such proactive measure, the loss and damages of produce will not be mitigated despite of the huge effort made to produce them. On the other hand, the econometric analysis results show that among variables fitted in to the model age of retail shop heads, sex and years of experiences of retail shop heads found to be significant. Therefore, although experience may correlate with age the positive relation of age need to be limited and by implication retention of younger retail shop heads encouraged, retaining experienced retail shop heads should be given much focus and males outperform for this research problem and hence male headed retail shops should be encouraged.