Uncovering risks in fresh agri-food supply chains: empirical evidence from tomato supply chain in Northern Tanzania

This study meant to identify pertinent risks, sources of risks and the extent to which risks impact tomato supply chain in the Southern Highlands in Tanzania. The study found that there are 68 risks across tomato chain. Based on the content analysis, 43% of the risks are controllable while 41% and 16% are uncontrollable and semi-controllable respectively. Additionally, relational; supply-and-demand disparity-related; and competence-based were identified as sources of risks. The study concluded that the sources of the risks are biosecurity related sources (diseases and pests), competence factors, disparity of supply and demand, extreme climatic changes, financial variables, regulatory and legal risks besides relational variables. It is recommending that participating firms and government institutions should proactively cooperate in managing risks and intensify extension services. Finally, future research should focus in one or two risk-types or sources and examine the extent of the quantitative impact sustained by a firm, tier or supply chain.