Block Chain Adoption and Transparency of Agricultural Supply Chain Performance in Port HarcourtBlock Chain Adoption and Transparency of Agricultural Supply Chain Performance in Port Harcourt

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between blockchain adoption and the transparency of agricultural supply chain performance in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Notwithstanding the crucial contribution of agriculture to roughly 24 percent of national GDP and employment of about 70 percent of the rural population, there are systemic inefficiencies characterized by post-harvest losses, price opaqueness, and limited traceability. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, or TAM, this study investigates how the technological readiness of blockchain and perceived usefulness influence transparency and performance in the rice and cassava value chains. In this paper, a structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey among 152 respondents comprising smallholder farmers, processors, distributors, and market agents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation through SPSS v28. These results showed a positive and significant relationship between blockchain adoption and both transparency at r = 0.562 and p < 0.05, and supply chain performance at r = 0.673 and p < 0.05. Consequently, the results indicate how blockchain enhancements can facilitate traceability, accountability, and operational efficiency that reduce post-harvest losses. The study therefore concludes that blockchain technology is an important tool in the quest to build resilience in agricultural supply chains in the oil-impacted regions such as Port Harcourt. It recommends capacity building, infrastructural investment, and enabling regulatory frameworks for blockchain integration as a way of ensuring sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.