Mihir Mohanta

Most engaged, little employed Mihir Mohanta

Over 300 million MT of fruits and vegetables gets distributed to 125crores of Indians, in an area of 3.28 million square kilometres during a year. There is no technology involvement, no company controls, and not even government management. In this massive movement from farm to fork, there are millions of hands involved. How does this uninterrupted supply system operate? Who engaged the millions? Are they engaged or employed?

Most of it has a shelf-life of a couple of hours to a couple of days. Yet, there is little involvement of cold chain, and almost everything is transported in ambient. Still, it intends to head to every Indian plate as fresh produce. The gifted 127agro-climatic zones, produce any and every F and V that is produced anywhere in the world. Therefore, the best of processed food has not been able to replace fresh. Often, the supply chain is surprised by unpredictable floods, cyclones, hailstorms and droughts. How resilient is it to respond to these calamities, who manages demand and how does the supply marry the demand?

- What is its future? Where is it heading for? Is it changing, adapting or evolving?

- Can the farmer have a bigger say in the supply chain, or can he have a larger share of the consumer pie?

- How easy or difficult is it to move farmers from "distress" to "doubling income"?

Most Engaged, Little Employed is an attempt to paint reality in the context of the supply chain. Discover the mystery of this wonderful supply chain.