Modelling the Domestic Supply Chain Strategies of Moringa Oleifera Trade within Local Context of Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The supply chain of Moringa Oleifera, one of the Vegetable and Traditional Herbal Medicine (V-THMs), produced for the confined and broader domestic markets of Bosso and Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria was explored together with the current practices of the supply chain actors. The confined and broader domestic supply chain involved growers, pickers, wholesalers and retailers who participate in the growing, harvesting and marketing of the vegetable using the chain of Beji growing fields-Maikunkele market-Bosso market-Kasuwan Gwadabe vegetable market Minna-Kure market-Kasuwan Tunga. Post-harvest loss was about 32.6% in the confined supply chain and 42.7% in the broader domestic supply chain. In both chains, growers suffered the highest loss of about 52% due to temperature, decaying and shedding. Damages incurred by pickers in the confined supply chain was 9% while in the broader domestic supply chain, the loss was 14%. Price irregularity was also obvious in both confined and broader domestic chains. To develop the livelihood of growers, a merging system that synchronizes and unswervingly link production activities and post-harvest procedures to regularly meet product capacity and value requirements of the domestic market required. It is therefore, recommended that reducing product damage requires production and post-harvest interpolations, which includes proper pest control, proper harvesting procedure, proper pruning procedure, improved packaging and logistics.