DETERMINANTS OF SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE IN THE GINGER INDUSTRY: A MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS OF ROAD TRANSPORT FACTORS IN SOUTHERN KADUNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The ginger industry in Southern Kaduna, Nigeria, is an important agricultural activity, yet its supply chain performance may be affected by road transport-related factors. This study examines the effects of road transport infrastructure, transport cost, transport reliability, market accessibility, and transport delay on supply chain performance in the ginger industry in Southern Kaduna. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected through structured questionnaires from 150 supply chain actors. Data were analysed using multiple regression analysis. The regression model was statistically significant overall (F = 4.113, p = 0.002). However, the individual results showed that market accessibility had a significant positive effect on supply chain performance (B = 0.361, β = 0.264, p = 0.016), while transport delay also recorded a significant positive coefficient (B = 0.376, β = 0.227, p = 0.035). Road transport infrastructure (p = 0.421), transport cost (p = 0.909), and transport reliability (p = 0.358) were not statistically significant. The study concludes that market accessibility and transport delay were the individual factors statistically associated with supply chain performance, while the effects of the other factors were not established. It recommends strengthening market linkages and further investigating the factors associated with transport delays.