Risk Management

The wastage of vegetables and fruits in the Indian farm sector is believed to be one third of the total produce. Supply chain management plays a vital role in controlling such wastage. The supply chain management in India used to be weak with its own inherent contradictions. While it has taken great leaps in the past decade, it is necessary to study the areas that needs attention as India is an agriculture-based economy to a large extend and is in its path to economic consolidation globally. This paper looks at the management of supply chain in general and the challenges it faces in the specific context of Farm to Table model of food facilities in India. The aim is to identify the challenges supply chain management faces as a whole and peruse it further to understand with respect to Farm to Table model in India, suggesting possible solutions for its restructuring. The paper looks at the evolution of Farm to Table concept and its status in Indian scenario. It reviews the multiple challenges that Supply chain faces and categorises them under four distinct headings. For this purpose, the researcher has adopted secondary research only, perusing papers already published on the subject for information. Journal articles, case studies, industry reports and government publications were the main source selected. A general criterion of sticking to articles that are not more than 10 years old is followed to ensure that the information is latest and reflect contemporary scenario. A comparison of the information from different articles were carried out to assess the gaps. Review of literature has thrown up some major findings. Farm to table concept as such has great potential for community development and financial empowerment of the locals. A shorter and efficient food supply chain leads to reduced carbon foot print, fresher produce and high quality of output. It reduces the middlemen and results in farmer wellbeing. On the food facility side, an efficient food supply chain would help in better menu design, addressing seasonal variability and balancing supply-demand quotient. It is found that investments in technology in food supply chains has picked up in the recent times in the country, such as cold storages and refrigerated transport systems, leading to less wastage and better quality. Adoption of advanced quality control systems such as block chain technology and IoT has led to improvement in traceability leading to heightened food safety standards. However, challenges of technological competence, cost considerations and regulatory frameworks are issues still persisting. In recent times supply chain automation and AI driven management systems are introduced. But there is competence gap that need to be addressed. While the supply chain remains fragmented in the country to a large extent, considerable work is done by the government for its improvement such as introduction of e-NAM. Overall, the growth trajectory is encouraging with specific areas...