Constraints to the Delivery of Clean Seed Yams in the Lowland Sub-humid Tropics of Nigeria: The Supply Chain Approach

An investigation into the seed yam supply chain was carried out to identify the components of commercial seed yam supply systems, which affect the supply of clean seed yams by smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Up to 108 respondents were used to generate data for the analysis. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to capture the mean ratings across the supply chain, while the Z - statistic was used to test for factors that influence seed yam traders' marketing strategies and extent of performance of marketing functions in the delivery of clean seed yams to farmers. The results of the analysis identified seed yam producers, collector agents (sometimes called yam traders or yam dealers), wholesalers and retailers as the main actors in seed yam supply within and outside the lowland belt of River Niger in Nigeria.