India's Bharti group and Walmart have launched a direct farm produce sourcing system to streamline the supply chain between farmers and consumers.
"We are addressing the needs of farm development in India and improving supply chain efficiencies that will bring quality produce at affordable prices to customers. This program showcases the convergence of farm development, sustainable practices and corporate philanthropy," says Raj Jain, managing director and chief executive of Bharti Walmart India.
Bharti Walmart India is a joint venture between Bharti enterprises and Walmart stores. To launch the program, company officials picked up fruits and vegetables from the fields of nearly 110 farmers and offered them up at a 7-percent to 10-percent premium over the usual price of the produce.
"We firmly believe that the second green revolution will happen outside the farm through reduction of wastage in the supply chain between the farm and the end consumer," says Jain.
Besides providing a ready market for the yield, Bharti Walmart experts and crop scientists are providing tips to farmers to improve the quality and quantity of the produce.
