Exploring the Current Challenges of Cold Chain Logistics Stakeholders in the Tomatoes Value Chain in Nigeria

The global substantial losses of fresh tomato products, especially in Nigeria with a reported 50% annual loss, necessitates the need for effective cold chain logistics operations. This is crucial for the safe storage and transportation of perishable fresh tomatoes. However, in Nigeria, cold chain logistics operations encounter challenges impeding their efficiency, reliability, and market growth. This exploratory study aligns with sustainable development goals narrowing on the following objectives: to identify the current operations of Nigerian tomato value chains and secondly, to explore the current challenges faced by cold chain logistics stakeholders in the tomato value chain in Nigeria. Through purposive sampling, focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and reflexive thematic analysis, the study reveals themes that reflect the current challenges in the tomato value chain as thus; theme 1; supply chain risk, theme 2; production and farming challenges, theme 3; stakeholder’s poor collaborations and visibility challenge, theme 4; government and policy challenges, theme 5; financial challenge and theme 6; socio-cultural challenges. These findings will guide policymakers and stakeholders in making decisions toward improving the performance and sustainability of the tomato value chain. Future research could focus on addressing challenges stakeholders in other fruit and vegetable value chains.