Ø  Economic importance of tomato

·      The tomato is a major vegetable crop that has achieve tremendous popularity over the last century. It is grown in practically every country of the world - in outdoor fields, greenhouses and nethouses. The tomato plant is very versatile and the crop can be divided into two categories; fresh market tomatoes, which we are concerned with and processing tomatoes, which are grown only outdoors for the canning industry and mechanically harvested. In both cases, world production and consumption has grown quite rapidly over the past 25 years. 

·      Tomato healthier concerns;

Tomatoes, aside from being tasty, are very healthy as they are a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is important for bone growth, cell division and differentiation, for helping in the regulation of immune system and maintaining surface linings of eyes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts. Vitamin C is important in forming collagen, a protein that gives structures to bones, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels. It also helps maintain capillaries, bones and teeth and aids in the absorption of iron.

·      Tomato is an excellent anti oxidant

Lycopene is a very powerful antioxidant which can help prevent the development of many forms of cancer. Cooked tomatoes and tomato products are the best source of lycopene since the lycopene is released from the tomato when cooked. A raw tomato has about 20% of the lycopene content found in cooked tomatoes. However, raw or cooked tomatoes are considered the best source for this antioxidant.

·      Tomato has higher consumption rate

Currently the tomato has a higher consumption rate in more developed countries and is often referred to as a luxury crop. In Israel, for example, the tomato is such an important part of the diet that it is a major part of the food basket, which is used when calculating the consumer price index. In other words, a scarcity of tomatoes can cause the CPI to rise and influence the inflation rate. In developing countries including Tanzania the tomato is becoming a more important part of the food basket but the goal of the farmer is to produce quantity not quality so people can eat.

·      Tomato are very suited for different cropping systems that are used on grains, pulses, cereals and oilseeds

·      Tomato are short duration crop which enables the farmer to have a complete cycle of the inputs costs and the income obtained after selling the produce for a given short duration

·      Tomato raises the economy at individual level to national level

Tomatoes are worth a tremendous amount of money because they give more yield for example farmers in Tanzania regions like Iringa in areas like Idodi, Dabaga ,Ilolo also in Tanga region in lushoto, Arusha region in Arumeru district and Mvomero district in Morogoro farmers have been supplying tomatoes through out the country and the companies like dabaga chilli and tomato sauce have been helping the farmers by paying them affordable and reasonable prices when they sell their tomatoes this also increases the development at individual level and due to taxes and establishment of industries also lead to the increase of the economy at national level