How The Sustainable Supply Chain At Marico Works - Pooja, TISS Mumbai

Of course, Marico has not stopped with that. It has set up a team to understand the best practices in coconut farming through learning programs and field experiments. The information is then circulated to the farmers. It has also partnered with the Government of Kerala, and has collaborated with the Coconut board of India.

If we look at this transformation of the supply chain, where does transparency and openness come in? At the Marico collection centres, automated rate display boards have been set up. Every day, the team determines the rate for copra, based on the requirements, market conditions and future outlook, and is communicated to the people who run the collection centres. This has helped to strengthen the trust between Marico and the farmers. In addition, automated SMS are also sent to farmers registered with Marico, to ensure that those in remote locations are also aware of the prices, and there is no information asymmetry.

This is a classic example of the transparency and openness that Marico values, and that is not only for the employees, but also for the business associates and suppliers who are connected to Marico in one way or another.

References:

http://www.marico.com/html/stakeholder.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NzG3H17YJI

http://www.thebetterindia.com/27775/direct2farm-farmers-mobile-sms-mobile4good/

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/sustainability-india-inc-why-maricos-supply-chain-management-is-a-case-study-at-iim-a/articleshow/26385726.cms

Note:

Fieldwork is a unique practice in TISS, Mumbai. Every semester, the students work in organisations from different sectors to gain an industry perspective and put their theoretical knowledge into practice.

You can find out more about it here – Fieldwork in TISS: The What, Why and Where.

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 About the Author:

 Pooja Wanpal considers reading the sole aim of her life. She is obsessed with trekking, pani puri, and adores traveling. She is a freelance content writer, and has penned the novel, ‘Love and Lokpal’. She is currently studying Human Resource Management and Labour Relations at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is also a part of the InsideIIM Student Team 2016-17.