Analysis of Agricultural Supply Chain Efficiency in the Tomato Sub-Sector in Kaduna State

This study analyses supply chain efficiency in the tomato sub-sector in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Kaduna State is a major tomato-producing and processing hub, hosting the Dangote Tomato Processing Plant and extensive smallholder tomato farming communities in Kadawa and Zubo. Despite this infrastructure, the tomato supply chain is characterised by high post-harvest losses, price volatility, and weak coordination between farmer, trader, and processor segments. This study uses a mixed-method design, mapping the tomato supply chain from farm to processor through surveys of 150 farmers, 30 traders, and 10 processors alongside qualitative value chain analysis. Supply chain efficiency is assessed using marketing margins, value-added distribution, price transmission, and coordination mechanism quality indicators. Findings reveal that supply chain losses average 38 percent of farmgate output, with the trader-to-processor transportation stage accounting for the largest share. Marketing margins are highly concentrated in the trader segment. Weak contractual relationships between farmers and the processing plant create supply uncertainty for the processor and price instability for farmers. The study concludes that supply chain inefficiency in Kaduna's tomato sub-sector is primarily driven by coordination failures and post-harvest infrastructure gaps. It recommends contract farming arrangements, cold chain investment, and farmer organisation development to improve chain coordination.

Keywords: supply chain efficiency, tomato sub-sector, Kaduna State, post-harvest losses, value chain.