The study was conducted to examine the causes of fresh tomato losses in Bauchi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 808 supply chain actors comprising of 301 producers, 105 wholesalers, 252 retailers and 150 consumers. Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum standard deviations and graph. Comparing among the supply chain actors for modes of transportation, the result reveals that most (25.23% 23.63% and 29.96%) of the producers, wholesalers and retailers used busses, lorry, pickups and cars, respectively, for their transportation, while half (50%) of the consumers used tricycle for transportation. Also, the result shows that majority (47.16%, 47.09% and 57.27%) of the producers, wholesalers and retailers, respectively, depended on personal savings as their source of capital. The result reveals that 75.38% of fresh tomato consumers obtained information from marketers. Producers (34.88%) obtained their information from fellow farmers, while 31.16% and 38.71% of the wholesalers and retailers obtained information from fellow marketers. The result also reveals that producers, wholesalers and retailers collectively agreed that high temperature with mean of 3.00, 3.00 and 2.92 was a real cause of fresh tomato loss. Further, the result shows that, of the quantities of 524.82, 162.52 and 22 produced and purchased by producers, wholesalers and retailers, 15.39%, 12.72% and 8.69% were lost. The result reveals that producers, wholesalers and retailers collectively agreed that high temperature with mean of 3.00, 3.00 and 2.92 was a real cause of fresh tomato loss. It was concluded that high temperature, lack of ready market, disease, storage facilities and car brake-down contributed significantly to fresh tomato losses among the supply chain actors. The study recommended that large cold storage facility can be made available, to reduce fresh tomato losses.

The study compared the net farm income of fresh tomato supply chain actors (SCAs) among central, western and northern zones of Bauchi State. Primary data were collected with the use of a structured questionnaire. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 658 supply chain actors (producers, wholesalers, and retailers). The data collected were analysed using farm budgeting technique and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result reveals net incomes of N186025.35, N321883.48 and N 66858.45 for producers, wholesalers and retailers, respectively. Also, the study shows returns per naira invested on every one naira as N0.78, N0.29 and N0.2, minimum net incomes of N -314058.33, N -2499400, N-80250.00 and maximum net incomes of N979826.67, N 4929150.00,  N 368050.0 for producers, wholesalers and retailers, respectively. The result shows significant differences in the net incomes of wholesalers and produce; wholesalers and retailers; and between retailers and producers at p < 0.05 and P<0.01 was observed. The result further reveals minimum costs incurred as N115122.50, N253450.00, N73470.00 and maximum costs incurred as N 805658.33, N4026350.00 and N 725570.00 for the SCAs. The result indicated significant differences in costs incurred between wholesalers and producers, wholesalers and retailers at P<0.01. The study concluded that fresh tomato production and marketing in the study area was profitable among the supply chain actors. It can also be said that there was significant differences in both the net incomes obtained and costs incurred by the supply chain actors among the zones. The study recommends that decisions on fresh tomato production and marketing be adjusted and re-established so as to optimise their profits. Also, SCAs can sell their products online by registering their product and location. This will allow easy access of the product by customers and it will help broaden fresh tomato market, which in turn will increase the income of the supply chain actors in the study area.