4. Conclusions and Recommendations
Market integration for fresh pineapple market varies from high integration among the consumption markets, low integration between producing and consuming markets to weak or no integration between the rural producing markets. The major determinant of pineapple market integration is information flow between producing and consuming locations. Since distance was found not to influence integration, the greatest influence on fresh pineapple prices may be the condition
of rural roads rather than the distance between markets. In order to increase more competition among traders, policy intervention to enable potential entrants should be encouraged as a means of promoting increased private sector participation in the markets, with information to boost their bargaining power. Farmer associations should also be encouraged to enable strong linkages and in reducing market information asymmetry.