Roadmap for Answer Writing 1. Introduction Define agricultural marketing and its significance in India. Briefly mention the importance of transport in the marketing of agricultural produce. 2. Main Constraints in Transport and Marketing Increased Transportation Costs: Explain how poor connectivity and lack of scale lead to ...
Model Answer Introduction Supermarkets serve as crucial retail hubs for food and household products, significantly influencing supply and demand dynamics. Their role in supply chain management, especially for fruits, vegetables, and other food items, is pivotal in streamlining processes and enhancinRead more
Model Answer
Introduction
Supermarkets serve as crucial retail hubs for food and household products, significantly influencing supply and demand dynamics. Their role in supply chain management, especially for fruits, vegetables, and other food items, is pivotal in streamlining processes and enhancing consumer experience.
Role of Supermarkets in Supply Chain Management
Faster Movement
Supermarkets facilitate quicker movement of goods compared to traditional methods. This efficiency helps in responding swiftly to consumer demand, ensuring that products are available when needed.
Diverse Product Offering
By hosting a variety of products, supermarkets provide consumers with a broad selection. This diversity not only caters to different consumer preferences but also stabilizes supply throughout the year, even during off-seasons.
All-Round Availability
Supermarkets maintain year-round availability of products, which necessitates effective storage and value-added processes. This capability enhances consumer access and satisfaction.
Quality Control
Supermarkets implement stringent quality control measures to guarantee that only fresh and high-quality produce reaches consumers. This focus on quality builds consumer trust and loyalty.
Eliminating Intermediaries
Direct Procurement
Supermarkets often engage in direct procurement from suppliers, bypassing middlemen like wholesalers. This approach ensures cost-effectiveness and enables better negotiation for prices and quality.
Reduced Transportation Charges
By managing logistics directly, supermarkets alleviate farmers’ transportation burdens, allowing them to focus on production.
Controlled Supply Chain
Supermarkets maintain a closely monitored supply chain, which mitigates risks related to spoilage and inefficiencies.
Use of Technology
Advanced technologies such as RFID and GPS tracking enhance supply chain monitoring, leading to improved operational efficiency.
Conclusion
Through direct sourcing, rigorous quality control, and technological integration, supermarkets effectively eliminate intermediaries, optimizing the supply chain process. This results in fresher products and competitive pricing for consumers.
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Model Answer Introduction Agricultural marketing encompasses the activities, agencies, and policies involved in the procurement of farm inputs and the movement of agricultural produce from farms to consumers, manufacturers, and exporters. In India, several constraints hinder the effective transportRead more
Model Answer
Introduction
Agricultural marketing encompasses the activities, agencies, and policies involved in the procurement of farm inputs and the movement of agricultural produce from farms to consumers, manufacturers, and exporters. In India, several constraints hinder the effective transport and marketing of agricultural produce.
Main Constraints
The lack of scale and poor connectivity often results in higher transportation costs, making it difficult for farmers to access markets efficiently.
India’s transport infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, is inadequate and poorly maintained. This deficiency complicates the timely and cost-effective transportation of agricultural products to markets.
Many farmers lack access to adequate storage facilities, leading to spoilage and waste of agricultural products. This situation often forces farmers to engage in distress selling, where they sell their produce at significantly lower prices due to the urgency to offload perishable goods.
Agricultural produce is often not graded properly, resulting in a mix of various qualities being sold together. This lack of standardization diminishes the incentive for farmers to invest in better seeds and produce higher-quality crops.
Small farmers frequently have restricted access to formal markets and are compelled to sell their products to middlemen at low prices. This practice reduces their profitability and discourages further investment in agriculture.
Farmers often struggle to obtain accurate information about market prices across different regions. The prevalence of unregulated markets limits their ability to seek redress for grievances, further complicating their marketing efforts.
Conclusion
Addressing these constraints is crucial for achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ incomes in India. While initiatives like the ‘Kisan Rail’ service and the ‘Krishi Udaan’ scheme have been implemented to improve the situation, significant work remains to ensure that farmers can fully benefit from their labor.
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