Challenges in Sugar Supply Chains in the Sub-Saharan Africa:

A Comparative Study of Cameroon and South African Sugar Supply

Chains
by
Serge Armel Nguepi Kitio
(Student No. 49216562)

Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Business Leadership
at the
University of South Africa (UNISA)

Supervisor: Prof Matiwosi Ensermu Jaleta

August 2025

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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………… 3
2. Research Philosophy ………………………………………..…………………… 3
3. Research Approach and Design ...……………………………………………… 4
4. Design of the Research ...……………..……………..……………..…………….. 4
5. Research methods …………….…………….…………….………………………. 5
3.5.1. Population
3.5.2. Sampling Techniques
3.5.3. Data
3.5.4 Data Analysis
6. Ethical Considerations ……….…………….…………….…….…….…….……. 10
3.6.1 Informed Consent Informed
3.6.2. Avoidance of Harm
3.6.3. Ensuring Confidentiality
3.6.4. Ensuring Fairness
3.6.5. Risk and Harm Prevention
3.6.3. Anonymity and Confidentiality
7. Methods of Data Analysis ………….…………….…….………….…….……. 13
3.7.1. Qualitative Data Analysis
3.7.2. Quantitative Data Analysis
8. Validity and Reliability …………….…….………….…….……….…….…….. 23
3.8.1. Validity
3.8.2. Dependability
9. Conclusion ……….…….………….……….…….………….……….…….……. 24
10. References ……….…….………….……….…….………….……….…….……. 25

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Chapter 3: Research Method
3.1. Introduction
The methodology followed works as the underlying guideline for effectively carrying out
systematic and deliberate investigations; hence, this means there is structure in the
research process, therefore alignment towards the realization of the objectives of this
research work. This chapter outlines and describes the methodology followed to
investigate the challenges in the sustainable agricultural supply chain in Sub-Saharan
Africa, focusing on comparing the sugar supply chains of Cameroon and South Africa.
The chapter shall discuss the various facets that should be considered or will be
considered under the research process, including research philosophy, approach,
design, methods, analysis of data, and ethical issues to be considered.

3.2. Research Philosophy

A research philosophy, more popularly known as a paradigm, is the researcher's
general beliefs and assumptions that guide their approach to the study of phenomena.
Such paradigms guide the researcher on the views of reality and the definition of
knowledge on that phenomenon, and decide the methodologies appropriate in finding
answers. Common paradigms include post-positivism, constructivism, transformative,
and pragmatism (Shah, 2025).

Therefore, guiding this study will be the pragmatic paradigm. Pragmatism is, by nature,
most essentially practical and problem-focused, with an emphasis on the ways through
which questions for research may best be addressed by multiple methods made
available in both the quantitative and qualitative aspects. This paradigm is appropriate
for the study regarding the complexities of sustainable agricultural supply chains
because it provides flexibility in the methodological choices while aiming at the
comprehension of the challenges faced in the sugar supply chain in Cameroon and
South Africa.

3.3. Research Approach and Design

The research strategy is a general mode of inquiry to complete the study and answer
general research questions (Johannesson & Perjons, 2021). This refers to whether

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quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods will generally prevail. Each approach confers
different advantages relative to data collection, data analysis, and data interpretation.

This will be a mixed-method approach in the context of this research. Evidence by

Nanthagopan (2021) argues that a mixed-method approach is a subjective and
quantitative method to collect and analyse data. Through the combination of the two, it
will be possible to capitalise on the strength of the approach; the qualitative approach
will offer rich and contextual understandings of these challenges in the studied sugar
supply chains, while the quantitative method will afford a measure and comparison
between such challenges in these different contexts.

The mixed methods approach mainly serves the objectives of this study about
comparing the sustainability between agricultural practices in Cameroon and South
Africa. Such a methodology enabled the examination of all social, economic, and
environmental dimensions of sustainability within the sugar supply chains researched
here and, hence, the aspects of influences characterising these industries in Sub-
Saharan Africa (Tracey, D. 2020).

This chapter, therefore, sets up the overall methodological framework within which the
inquiry into sustainable agricultural supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa is based. The
chapter posits the pragmatic paradigm as the guiding philosophy of the investigation,
and the mixed methods approach operationalized that could explore and compare, in an
integrated way, these problems faced by the sugar supply chain in Cameroon and
South Africa. Through so doing, this research will ensure that the results obtained will
be solid and detailed enough to adopt measures suitable to the natural settings of
agricultural sustainability.

3.4. Design of the Research

Research design explains how research questions will be answered: it denotes the
crucial identification attached to the general structure of research (Paul & Kaurav,
2025). Since mixed methods are a combination of qualitative and quantitative
approaches to answering research questions, there are designs such as parallel, quasi-
mixed, or sequential designs. The adopted design for this study is an exploratory

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sequential one to identify challenges within the sugar supply chains of Cameroon and
South Africa.

The design chosen for this research is exploratory sequential, where data are first
gathered and analysed in qualitative terms and then followed by quantitative data
collection. As adopted in this study, qualitative methods will be used first to welcome
and encourage in-depth information related to the social, economic, and environmental
issues facing the sugarcane farmers, millers, and wholesalers in the two countries.
These qualitative findings, marrying visionaries and purpose, will then inform the psyche
that brings forth a quantitative survey instrument for testing the pervasiveness of these
challenges through a more extensive sampling across enterprises (Odiadi, 2024).

It would be more fitting to find such a design because this was the finding stage of the
research; as much insight into the nature of challenges within the supply chain will be
needed first before any broader-scale quantitative assessment will be possible.
Responding thus allows for integrating both the qualitative and the quantitative data to
produce a comprehensive and nuanced rendering of the sustainability challenges
confronted by these sugar supply chains in Cameroon, while those in South Africa are
documented.

3.5. Research methods

Research methods pertain to the techniques and procedures involved in the present
inquiry for data collection and its analysis to successfully target the research questions.
Elaboration on the methodologies adopted in this study is presented subsequently,
along with the population used, the techniques of sampling, methods of data collection,
and modes of data analysis (Dunwoodie, Macaulay & Newman, 2023).

3.5.1. Population
In so doing, the target population refers to those persons actively involved within the
supply chain departments of the sugarcane growers, millers, and wholesalers who are
involved in the process. For those reasons, specific target persons have been selected
since they have direct exposure and in-depth information regarding the operational
dynamism and challenges of the respective sugar supply chains.

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The selection criteria in both countries will be aimed at personnel if and when well with
big companies and organisations, naturally, senior officers or managers directly
responsible for supply chain operations. Personal involvement and age will be crucial to
enjoy intricate details on the exact problems of multi-faceted issues of social, economic,
and environmental sustainability in sugar production and distribution networks.

Notably, it involves agents at every stage, from production to processing and eventually
to manufacturing and sales. The study cuts across perspectives that may holistically
give a complex discourse on issues of sustainability in the sugar sector as experienced
in both of these two African countries.

3.5.2. Sampling Techniques

Sampling techniques typically refer to selecting a group of method participants from the
population for one's sample to represent the latter and enable results to answer the
research question. This study uses a mixed breed of inference techniques between
non-probability and probability sampling methods.

In the qualitative phase, stratified purposive sampling will be used to select the
participants who exhibit deep insights and comprehension of the challenges within the
sugar supply chains (Samuel & Merkebu, 2025). These include two executives each
from the elements of sugarcane growers, millers, and wholesalers in both Cameroon
and South Africa, totaling 16 participants. Concurrently, the technique aptly selects the
participants under investigation to ensure that the views arise from strategically selected
people for varied perspectives and maximum coverage on all issues.

The quantitative phase will adopt the use of a probability-sampling procedure in

selecting participants from different milling companies that operate in the supply chains
of sugar. This means that the results derived from the quantitative survey will be highly
attributed and able to mirror the larger population under research.

In summary, the carefully selected research design used in this study lends itself to
ample exploration and comparison of the challenges that exist within the sugar supply
chains of both Cameroon and South Africa. By incorporating an exploratory, sequential
design with qualitative and quantitative approaches, the purpose of this study is to offer

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a role model in providing robust acquisition of insights into sustainability issues when it
comes to these agricultural sectors, hence bridging gaps towards better-informed
decision-making and policy formulation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3.5.3. Data
Data for this research shall come through interviews and structured questionnaires to
solicit comprehensive information on the challenges of the sugar supply chains of
Cameroon and South Africa.

The data will be collected through a series of interviews and a structured questionnaire.
a) Interviews
We will conduct informed, in-depth interviews with the key informants, those holding
lengthier and wider experience and knowledge of the sugar supply chains. Clarified will
include such interviews through a protocol for the questioning of interviewees to ensure
consistency and comparable depth of information in all the respondents. Interviews with
key informants are expected to include company executives and managers of
sugarcane growers, millers, and wholesalers from all enterprises in the two countries.
The interviews will be audio-recorded upon participant consent and later transcribed for
analysis. The structured interviews increase the ability of the researchers to probe into
the researched issues identified at the first stages of the study. Structured key informant
interviews will be carried out in the form of in-depth interviews, including carrying out
such on a protocol and recording for analysis.

b) Survey Questionnaire
A structured questionnaire containing views extracted from interview themes will be
developed and solicited in an electronic administration to fish out the data of staff in a
larger sample size working in the supply chain.

Now, based on the above and the variables to be used in your study of challenges in
the sugar supply chains of Cameroon and South Africa, kindly find below the tabulated
summary of data to carry out analysis using the SPSS software:

c) Sample Questions for the Survey Questionnaire

Demographics:

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 1. Age: ____
2. Gender: Male / Female / Other
3. Position
4. Years of Experience: ______
Social Sustainability Challenges:
Rate the following social issues in your supply chain on a scale from 1 to 5, where one
indicates that a problem is 'unimportant' and five means it is 'of most excellence.

• Labor rights problems

• Health and safety concerns
• Social Impact
d) Economic Sustainability Problems
Rate how necessary the following Supply chain economic challenges are, on a scale of
1 to 5. 1 = not important, 5 = Significant

• Cost of manufacturing
• Market access
• Financial stability

e) Environmental Sustainability Challenges

Please indicate on the scale down here the significance level of every environmental
challenge to your supply chain. (1 = Not significant, 5 = Very significant)

• Resource depletion
• Waste management
• Climate change impact
Guided Performance of
Rate the performance of your company, during the last year, on a scale of 1 to 5: 1—
Poor 5 Excellent

• Profitability
• Market share
• Customer satisfaction
• Explanation of Data Collection Method

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This procedure will give a framework to conduct a systematic analysis of the collected
sugar supply chain data from Cameroon and South Africa that shows sustainability
challenges with a direct influence on business performance across regions. Adapt the
methods of this analysis to your specific hypotheses and research questions set up in
the context of your study.

3.5.4 Data Analysis

Qualitative Data: The data collected from interviews will, therefore, be analysed using
qualitative thematic analysis to identify the recurring themes as described by McMillan
and Schumacher in 2014.

Quantitative Data: Data from these surveys will be analysed using descriptive statistics,
and the output from these will further be subjected to a comparative analysis of the
supply chains in South Africa and Cameroon. Statistical analysis for this data shall be
facilitated by SPSS software (Okeke, 2024). Steps will include:

Descriptive Statistics: It involves giving a summary of the essential features of data, that
is, mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.

Comparative analysis: To compare data obtained in Cameroon and South Africa.

Regression Analysis: Using the model to be specified hereafter, the regression between
sustainability challenges (social, economic, and environmental) and business
performance will be: PEF ∋¿ β 0+ β 1 SOC ∋+ β 2 ​ECO∋ ​+ β 3 ​ENV ∋​+ϵ

• PEF ∋¿= Mean business performance index for participant n of the

supply chain actor.
• SOC∋ ¿=Social sustainability index for participant n of supply chain
actor.
• ECO∋¿= Economic sustainability index of participant n of supply chain
actor iii.
• ENV ∋¿ = Environmental sustainability index for participant n of supply
chain actor iii.
• β 0 , β 1 , β 2, β 3=Coefficients for constant, social sustainability, and
economic sustainability.
• ϵ =Error term

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 3.6. Ethical Considerations
Any research involving human subjects requires careful consideration of ethical
principles with a view to protecting the rights and well-being of the participants.
Specifically, Okeke (2024) reports some highly critical ethical challenges, such as
obtaining informed consent and ensuring no harm is done to the participants and that
participation is equitable. This section specifies the ethical framework adopted by this
study to be able to deal with those issues effectively.

3.6.1 Informed Consent Informed

Consent is one of the cornerstones of ethical research practice, where participants
freely and knowingly consent to participate in each study (Yin, 2018). To this end, at
least three weeks in advance, they will receive information letters and consent forms;
these documents contain the nature of the research, including objectives, procedures,
potential risks, and benefits.

The information letter and the consent form will restate that it is voluntary for the clients
to participate in the research investigation and that they can decline to participate or
withdraw at any point without being at a loss. The covering documents for obtaining
consent will be drafted in simple and understandable language to facilitate clarity and
understanding for participants from various educational and cultural backgrounds
(Omutoko et al., 2025).

The applicable institutional review boards or ethics committees will provide ethical
approval for the study so that its design and procedures can be confirmed as carried out
under recognised ethical guidelines and regulations.

3.6.2. Avoidance of Harm

The study will take proactive measures to minimise any potential risks or harm to
participants. Specifically

Any activity, for example, interviews and data collection, will be undertaken in safe and
secure environments in such a way that ensures the physical and emotional well-being
of participants. Health and safety protocols will be executed where applicable,
especially in face-to-face interactions, to avoid risks of harm and discomfort.

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 3.6.3. Ensuring Confidentiality
Confidentiality and anonymity are paramount to protecting participants' privacy and
ensuring the confidentiality of their responses:

All research data, including the recordings of the interviews and survey results, will be
treated discreetly such that no unauthorised person will have access to it. Names of
participants will be anonymously picked up and used with pseudonyms in the research
results; therefore, answers will not be connected with a single person. Access to the raw
data will be limited to the research team, keeping data under the strict procedure of
confidentiality during the study.

3.6.4. Ensuring Fairness

This study will maintain fairness and respect for participants. Participants at all stages of
the research will be treated with respect and dignity, showing regard for both their
experience and contribution to the research. There will be efforts made toward the equal
representation of all views within the chosen sample under study and fairness in the
selection process and interpretation of data.

In other words, this research is highly dedicated to following harsh ethical measures to
protect the welfare, rights, and dignity of participants. Among them are the observance
of informed consent, which avoids causing as minimal harm as possible; assurance of
the participants' confidentiality; and assurance as far as fairness is concerned, as this
research shall pursue a sense of integrity and trustworthiness with findings and
contributions toward research and the whole field of sustainable agricultural supply
chains in Sub-Saharan Africa (Verbeke, M. et al., 2023).

3.6.2. Risk and Harm Prevention

It is also in this light that the safety and care of research participants must be
guaranteed through its implementation, specifically the process of conducting
interviews. This study will finish with the most reliable preventive measures for any
potential risk or harm to participants, following ethical principles and suggestions, as
noted by existing scholars in the same field of contemplation (Bouhouita-Guermech,
Gogognon, & Bélisle-Pipon, 2023).

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 Safety and Comfortable Conditions for the Interview Session
Interviews shall be conducted in an environment that is safe, secure, and allows for
open communication. These include:

Physical Safety: It is intended that venues for the interview are selected with very close
consideration, resulting in physical safety and comfort for participants. Issues to take
into consideration will involve accessibility to the venue, privacy, and elimination of any
kind of possible distractions.

Health Protocols: In line with current health and safety guidelines, particularly relevant
to face-to-face contact, the protocol will be respected to reduce to a minimum any risks
that could be related to disease transmission or any other physical hazards.

Comfort and Respect: The participant shall be approached with due respect and
sensitivity during the interview to bring about the proper comfort, elaborating on their
views without feeling jittery that someone may judge or take revenge upon them in the
future.

It, therefore, gives priority to such measures with the objective of creating an enabling
environment where participants can freely and securely share their perspectives and
portray their experiences about the challenges within the sugar supply chains in
Cameroon and South Africa.

3.6.3. Anonymity and Confidentiality

To ensure privacy and maintain the integrity of the research, the researcher will never
breach the confidentiality and anonymity of the participants involved. The study will
strictly follow very rigorous protocols, as will be recommended by ethical doctrines and
experts in the field (Drolet et al., 2023)

Protecting Participants' Privacy

Anonymising Data: In this step, all data, be it from transcripts of interviews or responses
from the survey, will be used after removing any information that may act as an indicator
to the information source back to the individual participant, thus making the participation
anonymous and making exclusive identities confidential.

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Secure Data Storage: Data will be stored securely in lockable drawers and password-
protected electronic devices. Only staff members directly engaged in the research
project will be granted access to the data, and they will all be under strict confidentiality
agreements.

Confidentiality Agreements: Researchers, data collectors, or analysts will sign

confidentiality agreements to declare and ensure privacy by maintaining information
about participants in the study as confidential.

Such will ensure the perpetuation of ethical standards, safeguarding of respondents'

rights, and the general trustworthy results expected of research. By ensuring data
anonymity and confidentiality, it is hoped to get forthright responses from the
participants, which will help to strengthen the understanding of the challenges in
sustainable agricultural supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa (Mekonnen, Jalata &
Onyeaka, 2024).

3.7. Methods of Data Analysis

The data analysis uses the data collected in the research process. This section
highlights the methods of analysing qualitative and quantitative data.

3.7.1. Qualitative Data Analysis

Interviews using qualitative data will be analysed thematically. This involves coding data
to find emerging patterns and themes from responses by participants. The procedures
include:

a) Transcription: Converting recorded interviews into text.

b) Initial Coding: Open coding of the most significant statements and
assigning codes.
c) Theme Seeking: Grouping the codes that link to the problems facing the
sugar supply chains.
d) Reviewing Themes: Making sure the themes portray the data.
e) Defining and Naming Themes: Clearly define each theme and name them
explicitly for reporting purposes.
f) Reporting: Writing up the findings narratively.

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 3.7.2. Quantitative Data Analysis
All the quantitatively derived information from the survey will be analysed using the
SPSS software. The quantified information to be analysed includes the following:

a) Descriptive Statistics: Method of calculation of mean, median, mode,

standard deviation, and frequency distribution summarizing data.
b) Comparative Analysis: Perform t-tests or ANOVA to compare the data of
the supply chains of the South African and Cameroonian countries.
c) Multiple regression analysis in tapping the relations of sustainability
challenges and business performance using Regression Analysis: The
regression model will be utilized to obtain the impact that social,
economic, and environmental sustainability has on business performance.

Data Table for Analysis

Participants Country Role SOC ECO ENV PEF
Index Index Index Index
1 Cameroon Grower 4.2 3.8 3.5 75
2 Cameroon Grower 3.8 4.0 3.2 72
3 Cameroon Miller 3.5 3.7 3.0 68
4 Cameroon Miller 3.6 3.9 3.1 70
5 Cameroon Wholesaler 3.9 3.6 3.3 73
6 Cameroon Wholesaler 4.0 3.8 3.4 74
7 South Africa Grower 4.5 4.1 3.7 78
8 South Africa Grower 4.3 4.2 3.6 76
9 South Africa Miller 3.8 4.0 3.3 72
10 South Africa Miller 3.7 3.8 3.2 70
11 South Africa Wholesaler 4.1 3.9 3.5 75
12 South Africa Wholesaler 4.2 4.0 3.6 76

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 • SOC Index: Social sustainability index (scale of 1-5, higher values
indicate higher perceived social sustainability challenges).
• ECO Index: Economic sustainability index (scale of 1-5, higher values
indicate higher perceived economic sustainability challenges).
• ENV Index: Environmental sustainability index (scale of 1-5, higher values
indicate higher perceived environmental sustainability challenges).
• PEF Index: Business performance index (scale of 0-100, higher values
indicate better business performance).

Explanation
• Participants: Each participant is categorized based on their role in the
sugar supply chain (Grower, Miller, Wholesaler) and their country of
operation (Cameroon or South Africa).
• Indexes: These indexes represent the average scores from respondents
related to their perceived challenges in social, economic, and
environmental sustainability, as well as their reported business
performance.

Analysis Plan

● Descriptive Statistics

Compute means, standard deviations, and ranges for the SOC Index, ECO Index, ENV
Index, and PEF Index separately for Cameroon and South Africa.

● Comparative Analysis

Use t-tests or ANOVA to compare the mean scores of the SOC Index, ECO Index, and
ENV Index between Cameroon and South Africa to identify significant differences.

● Regression Analysis

Perform regression analysis to explore the relationship between the SOC Index, ECO
Index, and ENV Index as independent variables, and the PEF Index as the dependent
variable, separately for Cameroon and South Africa.

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 ● Descriptives (Cameroon)

Notes
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N Range Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation Variance
VAR00007 6 .50 3.00 3.50 3.2500 .18708 .035
VAR00009 6 .70 3.50 4.20 3.8333 .25820 .067
VAR00008 6 .40 3.60 4.00 3.8000 .14142 .020
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 User-defined missing values
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South Africa

Descriptives
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Descriptive Statistics

N Range Minimu Maximu Mean Std. Varianc

m m Deviation e

VAR00011 6 .50 3.20 3.70 3.4833 .19408 .038

VAR00012 6 .40 3.80 4.20 4.0000 .14142 .020
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ANOVA

Sum of df Mean F Sig.

Squares Square

Between
.188 4 .047 . .
Groups
VAR0001
1 Within Groups .000 1 .000

Total .188 5

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 Between
.080 4 .020 1.000 .626
Groups
VAR0001
2 Within Groups .020 1 .020
Total .100 5
Between
.455 4 .114 22.750 .156
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VAR0001
3 Within Groups .005 1 .005

Total .460 5

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Case Processing Summary

N Percent

Included 6 85.7%

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 Exclude
1 14.3%
d
Total 7 100.0%

3.8. Validity and Reliability

Ensuring there is validity and reliability in the research study outcomes gives a
description of the integrity and credibility of the research results. This section of the

22 | Page
study indicates the strategies used in this study for enhancing both validity and
reliability.

3.8.1. Validity
Legitimacy concerns the precision and propriety of the research methods according to
the research targets, guaranteeing that the review estimates what it expects to
successfully gauge.

1. Content Legitimacy
To guarantee far-reaching inclusion of manageability challenges in the sugar supply
chain, the company carefully designs interview conventions and study surveys. These
instruments are painstakingly created to envelop all relevant perspectives distinguished
through an exhaustive survey of writing and a subjective starter investigation.

2. Construct Legitimacy
The research instruments, including interview guides and overview documents, are
grounded in laid out theoretical structures and ideas connected with maintainability
challenges in supply chains. By lining up with perceived theories, the review improves
the theoretical support and intelligibility of its estimations.

3. External Legitimacy
The study uses a delegate test of supply chain staff from sugarcane producers, mill
operators, and wholesalers in Cameroon and South Africa. This approach considers the
speculation of discoveries to more extensive populations within the separate nations'
sugar supply chains. By guaranteeing variety in member choice, the review improves
the outside legitimacy of its decisions.

3.8.2. Dependability
Dependability alludes to the consistency and solidity of research discoveries,
guaranteeing that results can be reproduced under comparable circumstances and
conditions.

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 1. Pilot Testing

Before full-scale execution, the review overview goes through pilot testing with a small
group of individuals. This starter stage perceives any ambiguities or issues with
question clarity, ensuring that the last instrument is good and reliable.

2. Consistency in Data Variety

Normalised methods are used during both gathering and outlining associations to stay
aware of consistency across data variety tries. This consolidates uniform shows for
coordinating gatherings, controlling examinations, and recording responses, thereby
restricting vacillation in data combination practices.

3. Inter-rater Steadfastness

For subjective data analysis, different researchers code and examine interview records.
This approach ensures that the ID and comprehension of themes are consistent across
different analysts, working on the reliability of subjective disclosures.

By completely keeping an eye on authenticity and reliability stresses through these

fundamental procedures, the survey aims to make disclosures that are reasonable,
dependable, and applicable to understanding the astounding challenges inside
sustainable agricultural supply chains in Sub-Saharan Africa. These undertakings
feature the commitment to key painstakingness and ethical decency all through the
research cycle.

Conclusion

This segment has delineated the research system for investigating the challenges in the
sustainable agricultural supply chain in Sub-Saharan Africa, unequivocally
differentiating the sugar supply chains in Cameroon and South Africa. The methodology
integrates the research philosophy, approach, design, methods, data analysis, and
ethical considerations. By embracing a pragmatic paradigm and using a mixed methods
approach, this study intends to give a broad cognizance of the challenges and propose
frameworks for further creating legitimacy in the sugar supply chains.

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