Social Capital, Supplier Trust, and Supply Chain Collaboration Quality in Agribusiness Networks in the Middle Belt Zone of Nigeria

This study empirically examines the relationships among social capital, supplier trust, and supply chain collaboration quality in agribusiness networks in Nigeria's Middle Belt zone, covering Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa States in the North Central geopolitical zone. Agribusiness supply chains in the Middle Belt are characterised by high-volume commodity production but fragmented distribution networks heavily reliant on interpersonal relationships between farmers, aggregators, processors, and buyers. Social capital, including network ties, norms of reciprocity, and shared information, is theorised as a foundational enabler of trust and collaboration in these relationship-intensive supply chain environments. Using a quantitative design, structured questionnaires were administered to 175 agribusiness operators across the three states. Social capital is measured through bonding and bridging capital dimensions using adapted scales. Supplier trust is assessed through goodwill trust and competence trust components. Collaboration quality is operationalised through joint planning depth, information sharing openness, and risk-sharing commitment. Structural equation modelling is employed. The study draws on social capital theory, trust in supply chains literature, and agribusiness network research from sub-Saharan African agricultural economies. Findings are expected to confirm that social capital exerts both direct and trust-mediated effects on collaboration quality, with network tie strength as the most influential social capital dimension. The study provides original empirical evidence from an underexplored but economically critical agricultural zone. Recommendations address agribusiness cluster managers, cooperative development agencies, and state agriculture ministries on leveraging social capital for supply chain integration. Keywords: social capital, supplier trust, supply chain collaboration, agribusiness, Middle Belt Nigeria.