This paper examined farmers’ perceptions and preferences for improved varietal traits in the Wenchi and Offinso North Municipalities of Ghana. Data from 306 randomly selected tomato farmers were analyzed using perception indices, Kendall’s Coefficient of concordance and the Poisson regression model. The results show that tomato farmers are willing to adopt an improved variety with long shelf life, good fruit quality and large fruit size. The study further indicates that tomato farmers lack requisite skills in pest and disease management. The number of varietal attributes preferred by farmers was positively influenced by sex of farmer, education, experience in tomato cultivation, household size, access to credit, FBO membership, extension contacts farm size and off-farm income. These factors and attributes need to be carefully considered by breeders and policy makers in the development of an improved tomato variety to enhance its uptake. The major constraints identified in tomato production include limited access to capital followed by low commodity prices coupled with low demand with the least constraint being access to tractors for land preparation. The potential of adoption of improved tomato varieties in Ghana will be augmented through paragenetic measures towards addressing these constraints.

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODOLOGY
    Study area
    Data and sampling
    Analytical Framework
    Ranking of constraints and varietal attributes
    Estimating the relative importance of the attributes incontributing to the preference and rankings
    Examining the factors influencing the number of attributespreferred by farmers in improved tomato varieties
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
    Characteristics of tomato farmers in the Wenchi andOffinso North Municipalities
    Farm-level characteristics
    Training on improved tomato production techniques
    Farmers preferences for varietal attributes in an improvedtomato variety
    Ranking of farmers’ preferred attributes of an improvedvarietal attributes
    Relative importance analyses of the attributes farmersprefer in an improved tomato variety
    Factors influencing the number of varietal traitsdesired in an improved tomato variety
    Constraints in the tomato production industry
    Intensity of constraints in tomato production
적 요
REFERENCES

• Bright Owusu Asante(가나 작물연구소) | 브라이트 오우수 아산테 Corresponding author
• Jonas Osei-Adu(가나 작물연구소) | 조나스 오세이 아두
• Kwasi Offei Bonsu(가나 작물연구소) | 크와시 오페 본수
• Michael Kwabena Osei(가나 작물연구소) | 마이클 크와베나 오세이
• Richard Adabah(가나 작물연구소) | 리타드 아다바
• Stephen John Ayeh(가나 작물연구소) | 스테판 존 아예
• John Okyere(FEYN Agribusiness) | 존 오치리
• Cho Gyoungrae(해외농업기술개발사업(KOPIA) 가나 센터) | 조경래
• Jeon Hakyung(해외농업기술개발사업(KOPIA) 가나 센터) | 전하경
• Hong Soonsung(농촌진흥청 국외농업기술과 아프리카 팀) | 홍순성