Infrastructure Quality and Agricultural Logistics Performance: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria's Irish Potato Supply Chain

Agricultural logistics infrastructure remains a major determinant of food supply chain efficiency in developing economies. Despite Nigeria's status as one of Africa's leading producers of Irish potatoes, persistent deficiencies in rural road networks, storage facilities, and transportation systems continue to undermine supply chain performance and increase post-harvest losses. This study examines how infrastructure quality affects agricultural logistics performance, drawing on empirical evidence from the Irish potato supply chain in the Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. The study adopts a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative survey data from 92 stakeholders, including farmers, traders, and transporters, with qualitative insights from supply chain actors, and interprets findings through agricultural logistics and supply chain integration theories. The findings show that infrastructure quality significantly influences logistics performance across the Irish potato supply chain. Road infrastructure was rated poor or very poor by up to 75% of stakeholders, particularly transporters, and inadequate storage facilities were the most frequently cited constraint among farmers and traders. The majority of stakeholders reported post-harvest losses of 10% to 20%, with poor storage conditions and deteriorating transport infrastructure identified as the principal causes. Infrastructure deficiencies reduce market accessibility, increase transportation costs, constrain regional distribution, and weaken supply chain resilience. The study recommends integrated investments in rural transport infrastructure, decentralized cold storage facilities, logistics hubs, and public-private partnerships for agricultural transportation. Improving logistics infrastructure has the potential to reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers' incomes, enhance food security, and strengthen regional agricultural competitiveness.