Factors leading to supply chain inefficiency in agribusiness: evidence from Asia's largest wholesale market

This article examines the factors and most significant variable leading to supply chain inefficiency with respect to high cost, high lead time and poor quality at the wholesale stage of tomato supply chain in India. The primary data were collected through a survey using questionnaire with the total of 120 tomato wholesalers (commission agents) at the wholesale market. The study was conducted at Asia's largest wholesale fruits and vegetable market (Mandi) in Azadpur, Delhi. Factor analysis was carried out to identify the factors. Based on the analysis, four factors were identified for high cost, namely, labour charges, operational, resources, and infrastructure; five factors were identified for high lead time, namely, operational, labour, resources, and infrastructure; and five factors were identified for poor quality, namely, operational, infrastructure, ambience, labour, and information. The findings show that labour charges and operational factors are the most significant factors leading to supply chain...