QUESTION 4
GS3
10 marks
Elaborate the scope and significance of supply chain management of agricultural commodities in India.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Elaborate what agricultural supply chain management covers in India and why it matters for farmers, consumers and the economy.
ElaborateAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Scope: farm-gate aggregation (FPOs, PACS), grading and packing, storage and cold chain, transport (Kisan Rail, Krishi Udan), processing, wholesale and retail, exports, digital tracking (e-NAM, ONDC, AgriStack)≈35 words
- 2Significance: cuts post-harvest loss, raises farmer's share of the consumer rupee, stabilises prices of perishables, supports food processing and exports, improves food safety and traceability≈35 words
- 3Gaps: fragmented holdings, many intermediaries, cold chain shortfall, weak rural roads≈35 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
DefineScope along the chainSignificance with dataGapsMeasuresConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Writing about agricultural marketing in general without the chain stages
- No figure on losses or farmer's share
Draw this
- Supply chain diagram from farm to fork with loss points
Value addition
- DataPost-harvest losses are estimated at about ₹1.53 lakh crore a year.NABCONS study for MoFPI, 2022
- DataRBI working papers estimate farmers get only about a third of the consumer rupee for tomato, onion and potato.RBI Working Paper, 2024
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.