Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the post-harvest supply chain enablers (PHSCEs) for vertical integration to enhance rural employability, farmer profitability and rural produce marketability (i.e. market prospects) in the post-harvest supply chain (PHSC). The impact of vertical integration is also explored for various commercial produces.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation modeling (SEM) of PHSCEs for vertical integration was developed to enhance market prospects, rural employability and farmer profitability. The impact of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer market prospects are explored in various dimensions for stakeholders such as farmers, manufacturers (processors), distributors and retailers. The fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (F-TOPSIS) was used to prioritize these PHSCEs to improve market prospects and rural employability.

Findings

The PHSCEs are clustered into three groups, namely, initiatives at the strategic frontier, initiatives at the tactical frontier and concerns for rural employability via vertical integration using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and SEM to prove the null hypothesis. With F-TOPSIS results, the availability of warehousing was found to be the most crucial enabler when observing the PHSCEs from the initiatives’ perspective. The technology adaptability and availability, institute for training and research and information infrastructure and information visibility were found to be the key PHSCEs when observed from PHSC stakeholders’ perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

The implementation of this study will improve the rural produce marketability, rural employability, B2B marketing (i.e. effective distribution) and subsequent value chains with the practice of vertical integration for fresh produce at the rural level.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this study have a key role in developing the rural regions and improving rural livelihoods via value addition. The awareness of commercial cultivation and value addition in rural areas needs to be improved. This will help farmers to earn better revenues with improved market prospects in comparison to the revenues obtained from the cultivation of staple/conventional crops.

Originality/value

In an era of cold chains and food processing, this study aims to disseminate awareness about value addition for commercial and fresh produces at the rural level. The implication of this study will improve rural produce marketability, rural employability and farmer profitability at the rural level with the level of vertical integration.

中文翻译：

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分析农村就业能力和适销性垂直整合的收获后供应链推动因素

目的

本研究的目的是分析收获后供应链推动因素（PHSCEs），以提高收获后供应链（PHSC）中农村的就业能力、农民盈利能力和农村产品的市场竞争力（即市场前景）。还探讨了垂直整合对各种商业产品的影响。

设计/方法/方法

开发了用于垂直整合的 PHSCE 的结构方程模型 (SEM)，以提高市场前景、农村就业能力和农民盈利能力。对农民、制造商（加工商）、分销商和零售商等利益相关者从各个方面探讨了企业对企业 (B2B) 和企业对客户市场前景的影响。使用与理想解决方案相似度排序的模糊技术（F-TOPSIS）对这些 PHSCE 进行优先排序，以改善市场前景和农村就业能力。

发现

PHSCE 分为三组，即战略前沿的举措、战术前沿的举措和通过纵向整合对农村就业能力的关注，使用探索性因素分析、验证性因素分析和 SEM 来证明零假设。根据 F-TOPSIS 结果，当从计划的角度观察 PHSCE 时，仓储的可用性被认为是最关键的推动因素。从 PHSC 利益相关者的角度观察，技术适应性和可用性、培训和研究机构以及信息基础设施和信息可见性被认为是关键的 PHSCE。

研究限制/影响

本研究的实施将通过农村一级生鲜农产品垂直整合的实践，改善农村农产品的市场化、农村就业能力、B2B 营销（即有效分销）和后续价值链。

实际影响

这项研究的成果对于通过增值发展农村地区和改善农村生计具有关键作用。农村商业化种植和增值意识有待提高。与种植主食/传统作物的收入相比，这将有助于农民获得更好的收入，并改善市场前景。

原创性/价值

在冷链和食品加工时代，本研究旨在传播对农村商业和新鲜农产品增值的认识。本研究的意义在于通过纵向一体化水平提高农村产品的市场化、农村就业能力和农民盈利能力。