This paper presents the concerns in agri-food supply chain. Further the research investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in agri-food supply chain and determines the impact of supply chain management (SCM) practices on firm performance.,The theoretical framework was proposed for the study on the basis of existing literature. Data for the study was collected with the help of structured questionnaire from 121 executives and officers of the public food distribution agency. Partial least square (PLS)–structured equation modeling was employed to test the framework and hypotheses.,The results indicate that ICT and SCM practices (logistics integration and supplier relationships) have a significant relationship. Furthermore, SCM practices (information sharing, supplier relationship and logistics integration) have a significant and positive impact on performance of the organization.,Further research could be carried out to test the moderation effect of SCM practices between ICT and organizational performance (OP). Extending the research study to the companies operating in other sectors can enhance the external validity of the study and improve the accuracy of parameters examined.,This study can be of interest to the agri-food industry as well as other industry practitioners interested in improving the performance of the organization from the view of supply chain.,The outcomes of this study have important implications that translate into a series of recommendations for the management of public food distribution as well as other agri-food-based supply chains.

Exploring the relationship between ICT, SCM practices and organizational performance in agri-food supply chain

/pdf/a-shrouded-wind-turbine-generating-high-output-power-with-507w4ujpra.pdf

A Shrouded Wind Turbine Generating High Output Power with Wind-Lens Technology

Barriers to sustainable food consumption and production in China: A fuzzy DEMATEL analysis from a circular economy perspective

The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by acting as a safety net by distributing essentials at a subsidised rate. While the PDS forms a cornerstone of government food and nutrition policy, India continues to be home to a large population of hungry and malnourished people. This review seeks to explore the functioning and efficiency of the PDS in achieving food and nutritional security in India. A comprehensive and systematic search using the key terms "food insecurity" OR "food security" AND "Public Distribution System" OR "PDS" OR "TPDS" AND "India" identified 23 articles which met the inclusion criteria. This review draws attention to the lack of published literature in areas of PDS and food security in India. The findings of the review emphasise the role of PDS in tackling hunger and malnutrition while highlighting its limited role in improving food security and childhood mortality due to operational inefficiencies. The PDS has the potential to act as a solution to food insecurity in India if the operational inefficiencies and environmental footprints are addressed by adequate policy reforms.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/17/3221/pdf

The Public Distribution System and Food Security in India

A systematic review on barriers and enablers toward circular procurement management

Circular economy practices in a developing economy: Barriers to be defeated

Purpose



– National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) is a unique step taken by Indian government to fight against hunger and protect right of the people for food. With its peculiarities like the life cycle approach, women empowerment, consideration of vulnerable sections in society and proposed reforms in public distribution system (PDS), NFSA is a promising effort for food security in India. The purpose of this paper is to put forth various aspects of NFSA and to identify issues and challenges for its implementation in the light of Indian PDS. 




Design/methodology/approach



– Understanding the implications of NFSA, mapping the existing system of foodgrains distribution in India and analysing existing literature and secondary data available from assorted sources are the steps followed in this endeavour. 




Findings



– Limited resources and exponentially increasing population, lack of infrastructure, operational inefficiencies and poor performance of the PDS are the major hurdles in successful implementation of the proposed act. This study gives emphasis on the need of major reforms in procurement, storage, movement and distribution of foodgrains strategies. 




Research limitations/implications



– This paper focusses mainly on the operational and strategic aspects of PDS and its implications on NFSA. There is a wide scope for future research on sustainability of the act through agricultural and biotechnological innovations, financial analysis and strategic aspects. 




Originality/value



– This study is an unique attempt of mapping and auditing of the entire complex value chain of the Indian PDS for implementation of NFSA. As NFSA is going to redefine the food security aspects, this pioneering work will be useful for researchers and policy makers working in this field in India and other developing countries.

Implementing National Food Security Act in India: issues and challenges

Food banks play a significant role to ensure food security through surplus food recovery and redistribution to economically deprived and marginalized people. Food bank is a recent phenomenon in several countries including India. The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges and barriers that impede the growth and adoption of food banks in the Indian context and to evaluate critical barriers by prioritizing them. A total of 14 barriers have been identified through literature survey, qualitative interviews with different stakeholders of food banks in India and expert's inputs. These barriers have been clustered into 7 categories - Policy and regulation, financial resources, infrastructure and human resources, planning and coordination, knowledge, uncertainty, and characteristics of food, of main barriers. Then, DEMATEL is used to find the cause-effect relationship among the identified barriers. A network of inter-relationship among the identified barriers is devised using Analytic Network Process (ANP) using the output from DEMATEL. Results of DEMATEL indicates that lack of planning and coordination is the most significant barrier that hinders the growth and sustenance of food banks in India. Also, lack of infrastructure and human resources are the major effect of the other barriers. Further, the financial barrier attains maximum weight in the ANP process and came out to be the most critical barrier. This study can be help food banks and policy makers to devise the plans for sustenance of the food banks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt ever to identify and prioritize the barriers for the food banks.

A study of barriers for adoption and growth of food banks in India using hybrid DEMATEL and Analytic Network Process

Power produced by a wind turbine is directly proportional to the cube of wind velocity. Small amount of increase in wind velocity significantly increases power output. Use of diffuser around the wind turbine causes pressure reduction behind the wind turbine and draws more air flow at increased velocity through the rotor. The length of the diffuser and associated problems are the barriers for field application and commercialization of diffuser augmented wind turbine. A compact diffuser with low length to diameter ratio is desirable for field application. In this work computational fluid dynamics analysis is carried out for three different diffusers - diffuser without flange, diffuser with vertical flange and diffuser with inclined flange for a micro wind turbine. Aim of the work is the optimization of diffuser to achieve maximum wind velocity.

Ajinkya Tanksale

Papers

Circular economy practices in a developing economy: Barriers to be defeated

Implementing National Food Security Act in India: issues and challenges

A study of barriers for adoption and growth of food banks in India using hybrid DEMATEL and Analytic Network Process

CFD analysis for optimization of diffuser for a micro wind turbine

Designing a closed-loop supply chain for reusable packaging materials: A risk-averse two-stage stochastic programming model using CVaR