Value Chain Governance, Power Dynamics, and Equity Implications of the Nigerian Fresh Tomato Export Sector

Nigeria's fresh tomato sector has attracted significant interest from regional export development programs targeting West African and European markets, yet the governance structures, power dynamics, and distributional equity implications of integrating smallholder tomato farmers into formal export value chains remain poorly theorized and empirically under-examined. This dissertation applies global value chain theory and institutional political economy analysis to investigate the governance structures, lead firm power, standards compliance burdens, and equity outcomes for smallholder tomato farmers participating in emerging export value chains originating from Kano and Kaduna states. Primary data were collected using in-depth interviews with 35 value chain actors including exporters, aggregators, processing firms, and farmers; documentary analysis of procurement contracts and standards compliance requirements; and survey data from 180 smallholder tomato farmers. Results reveal governance structures characterized by buyer-driven coordination with asymmetric power distribution favoring lead export firms. Standards compliance requirements, particularly GlobalGAP and maximum residue limit regulations, impose disproportionate costs on smallholders without commensurate price premium benefits. The study contributes original theoretical and empirical analysis to debates on inclusive agri-food chain governance and recommends collective action models and government-mediated standards compliance support for smallholder tomato exporters in North West Nigeria. Keywords: value chain governance, tomato export, equity, smallholder farmers, North West Nigeria