CONCEPTUALIZING SMALLHOLDER SUPPLY CHAIN ACTIVITIES OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA (ZOBO LEAF) WITHIN THE RURAL CONTEXT OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper addresses the challenges facing smallholder Zobo Leaf supply chain in
Nigeria. It provides background information about Zobo Leaf cultivation in Nigeria,
its international supply chain management performance, and managerial
configuration. It then classifies the main challenges into five distinct categories and
provides some solutions to the challenges, using some supply chain management
approaches to culminate into smart economic strategies. In the face of deteriorating
and unstable competitiveness of the smallholder Zobo Leaf supply chain in Nigeria.
This paper recognizes the special role of actors relationship capitalizing on supplier
and consumer relationships, smart value addition, information and communication
technology (ICT), symmetric information flow, tractability in internal production
capability, upgrading of Zobo Leaf sprouting, proper organization, management,
policy reforms, training, studying internal and external environment context,
management decisions, irrigation, venturing in new markets through partnership, and
civil society engagement as competitive supply chain strategies.