Framework the food supply chain network in the present Indian scenario

Abstract

In India, agriculture sector always takes priority over the other leading areas as the maximum population is dependent on it for their bread and butter. It contributes the major proportion to the Indian economy and most significantly provides nutritional security to the country. Despite of all these facts, the issues like food security, post-harvest losses, and socioeconomic status of the farmers are the major challenges which create barriers to the development of the country. Recently, numerous studies have been found in the concern of food waste and losses along the supply chain. Even so, the 40% of the food is wasted in India according to a report of United Nations Development Programme. In this study, causes of food waste and losses along the supply chain network are identified and weighted based on the survey of previous literature. The aim of this study is to categorize the major causes as a superset and the minor causes as its subset and is represented through fishbone diagram for its clear vision. Secondly, the initiatives regarding the reduction in food waste are identified and prioritized using the weighted prioritization matrix approach. This study helps to give an idea about the most significant initiative that government should adopt at large scale in the context of reducing food waste and losses. It is concluded from the results that the linkages between farmers and industries require prior attention over the other initiatives to improve the efficiency and profitability of food supply chain.