Helping Agribusinesses—Small Millets Value Chain—To Grow in India

Abstract

Small millets, a group of highly nutritious food, have taken a back seat in the Indian agriculture landscape in recent years, due to government policies and failings in the value chain. In this commentary, the unusual decline of small millets in comparison to its substitutes, and the repercussions thereof, were first presented as context. Thereafter, based on analysis of data from literature, survey, and stakeholder contributions, a cluster map for the Indian small millets value chain was designed, and its competitive state presented. This information was used to conceptualize an open innovation driven business model, and an ecosystem for the proposed model was discussed. This commentary provides the first cluster map analysis of small millets value chain in India, and a business model-based approach to stimulating its agribusinesses growth through a synthesis of stakeholders' contributions and market data.

Food Supply Chain and Business Model Innovation

“…They introduce a digital food hub, which is an online marketplace, to connect the local food producers and consumers. Ultimately, Adekunle et al [78] consider the customers intimacy and the product quality as driving sources to BMI for the whole FSC (see Figure 8).…”

“…Designing solutions for value creation and value delivering for the entire supply chain, indeed, implies that the researchers have tried to provide innovative solutions that affect the whole supply chain from the farmers to the retailers and customers. For instance, Adekunle et al [78], Barth et al [79], Ulvenblad et al [84], and Pakh and Baek [82] recommend frameworks to innovate the business models in the FSC.…”

“…Adekunle et al [78] designed a business model for the small millets value chain in India. According to their result, a mixed customer intimacy-product leadership (CI-PL) business model is appropriate for the small millets value chain in India where the CI-business model refers to customer intimacy business models in which the customer is placed in the center of the business model and PL business model highlights the product leadership business models in which the quality of the product is of the utmost importance.…”

“…According to their result, a mixed customer intimacy-product leadership (CI-PL) business model is appropriate for the small millets value chain in India where the CI-business model refers to customer intimacy business models in which the customer is placed in the center of the business model and PL business model highlights the product leadership business models in which the quality of the product is of the utmost importance. According to the proposed business model of Adekunle et al [78], there should be an interactive collaboration among farmers, technologists, processors, and researchers to produce and deliver high-quality small millets through innovation, creating, and sharing knowledge. This collaboration will lead to increase yield, improved marketing, and reduction of drudgery.…”

Value Chains and Diet Quality: A Review of Impact Pathways and Intervention Strategies

“…For example, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics show that global rice production has increased by more than 250% since 1960 (faostat.fao.org). However, by displacing traditional crops and reducing the price of major cereals relative to other nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and pulses, there is evidence that dietary diversity may have inadvertently been undermined in some cases [10][11][12][13]. As such, it is unsurprising that progress toward addressing hidden hunger has lagged progress in addressing chronic hunger [14].…”