Last-mile distribution of vegetable seed in northern Nigeria: Perspectives of agrodealers and farmers on trust and seed quality

The circulation of low-quality agricultural inputs remains a persistent concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with important implications for farmer investment and market development. In vegetable seed systems, where private actors play a central role, information asymmetries and weak enforcement mechanisms create uncertainty about product quality at the point of sale. This article examines how trust operates at the last mile of vegetable seed distribution in northern Nigeria, focusing on how signals of seed quality shape farmers’ sourcing decisions. It centres primarily on tomato, which is the dominant commercial vegetable crop. A qualitative research design was employed using framework analysis, drawing on focus group discussions with vegetable farmers and interviews with agrodealers. The findings showed that farmers relied on a combination of product signals (such as packaging, branding and labelling) and agrodealer characteristics (including social capital, knowledge, shop outlook and accountability) when making purchasing decisions. Trust developed gradually through repeated interactions, and agrodealers played a broader role beyond input provision by offering credit, information and tailored services. Overall, the results suggest that vegetable seed markets are not purely transactional but are shaped by social relationships and learning processes. Strengthening seed system performance therefore requires attention to the last mile of distribution, including supporting agrodealers in maintaining quality and reliability, as well as enhancing farmers’ ability to interpret product signals.