Translation of the Agricultural Supply Chain Collaboration Models- Recommendations and End-users’ Guidelines

The Exporting perishable commodities research team has developed a supply chain collaboration model for three selected horticulture industries: mango, avocado, and lychee.

This report is the translation of the research findings of the project, focusing on basic questions of why, who, how and what in relation to implementing the collaboration models in selected industries. A set of themes has emerged through an inductive qualitative analysis approach. Based on the identified themes, some recommendations have been made for the relevant stakeholders and actors in the ASCC. The key recommendations are:

  • Developing a culture and environment of ASCC through information sharing and network building is essential for sustainable ASCC. Retaining collaboration partners is also crucial for sustainable ASCC and considerable for developing ASCC. Building and maintaining trust as well as risk-sharing are key for retaining collaboration partners and ensuring sustainable ASCC.     
  • Leadership in ASCC is important. However, all actors involved in the ASCC need to understand their contribution towards the collaboration and act accordingly in order to ensure the success of the collaboration.
  • Leadership and business management skills could be enhanced through supply chain-focused short courses and the involvement of industry working groups. Attaining this goal could be challenging due to the lack of multi-level training programs and the different education levels of supply chain actors. 
  • It is difficult for producers to attend a training program to boost up their business skills due to their work commitment at the farm. It is recommended that cross-sector mentoring programs and on-farm face-to-face training could be beneficial for this cohort.   
  • Government support in the forms of network building and subsidisation is vital for the success of ASCC. Government subsidy on air freight could trigger the ASCC to reach the export market.
  • Formal agreements and contracts among ASCC partners may or may not be important, depending on the nature of the collaboration. Formal agreements and contracts with overseas partners in export focused ASCC depend on the culture and norms of the participating countries. 
  • Given the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 situation, financial support from the government may not be obtainable for supporting ASCC. However, the government and industry could work together in transforming and restructuring supply chains to reach export markets.  
Publication Date
Author

Akbar, D., Rolfe, J., Rahman, A., Nguyen, T., Schrobback, P. Kinnear, S., and Bhattarai, S

ISBN
978-1-922437-30-3
Industry
Horticulture
Strategic policy development
Supply chain development
Publication Type
Report