QUESTION 4
GS3
10 marks
Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Examine how supermarkets manage supply chains for fruits, vegetables and food and how they cut intermediaries.
ExamineGo into the details, test each point against evidence, and conclude on what it shows.
Demand-wise check
- 1Role: direct sourcing, collection centres near farms, grading, cold chain, quality standards, demand forecasting, reduced wastage≈30 words
- 2Cutting intermediaries: buying directly from farmers or FPOs, contract farming, outside APMC mandis, digital payments≈30 words
- 3Benefits: better farm-gate share, lower consumer price, less post-harvest loss≈30 words
- 4Concerns: buyer power, rejection of produce, small farmers left out, APMC rules limiting direct purchase≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Traditional chain with many layersSupermarket modelHow intermediaries are removedConcernsReformsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not describing the traditional chain (commission agent, wholesaler, retailer) to show what is removed
- Ignoring risks for small farmers
Draw this
- Two flowcharts: farmer → commission agent → wholesaler → retailer → consumer versus farmer/FPO → collection centre → supermarket → consumer
Value addition
- LawModel Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act, 2017 allows private markets and direct purchase from farmers.Ministry of Agriculture, 2017
- ExampleMother Dairy's Safal sources fruits and vegetables from farmer associations for its Delhi outlets.Mother Dairy
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.