Retailers embracing rural Indians

billv — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:00:13 +0000

India is a diverse country home for four of the top 10 global billionaires and also home millions of people under poverty line. Retailers are not just embracing the urban Indians, we have ITC, Godrej-Future Group, DCM and others active in the rural Indian market. We compare the primary business goals of each of these rural retailers here.

India: Icrier backs more organized retail

billv — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:08:22 +0000

Despite impact on small stores, 14-month-long govt-backed survey seeks faster big retail rollout, self-regulation. By Rasul Bailay and Udit Misra. Livemint.com 27 May 2008

New Delhi: Endorsing the opening up of India's retail market for branded chains despite evidence that clearly suggests small retailers will be hurt-at least initially-Icrier, a think tank, has asked the government to reduce the number of licences required to expand organized retail and to facilitate "a private code of conduct" for such retailers. The study, which Icrier took 14 months to finish after it was asked by the commerce and industry ministry to study the impact of organized retail on mom-and-pop stores, says if left alone, the unorganized sector, which accounts for more than 95% of all retail in India, will emerge as "a major bottleneck to raising productivity in both agriculture and industry".

Modern retail offers wide choice, farmers want to exercise it all

billv — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:32:44 +0000

Yahoo Finance India, 12 Feb 08

When he has a ready crop, Dnyaneshwar Nikam's day would often start with a phone call, typically to the local wholesale agricultural produce marketing committee (APMC) market, which has for decades been the only wholesale buyer of his produce.

These days, his phone list is a lot longer. It includes officials of Godrej Agrovet Ltd, Aditya Birla Retail Ltd and Reliance Retail Ltd and he carefully compares prices before promising delivery of his ripe but unharvested crop that day.

As Indians prepare for the army of retailers, who are drawing up plans to open stores in all sizes and price-ranges for them to buy from, the nascent industry is offering selling choices for farmers as well-from cooperatives to big retail firms to higher rates from APMC traders and even farmer-owned stores.

New case study from Pakistan: milk production and marketing by small and medium scale contract farmers

billv — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:22:46 +0000

by Tanvir Ali, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Pakistan is the fourth largest milk producer in the world. About a third of the total milk produced by the rural families flows out to urban consumers and processing industries. In urban areas milk is available to common consumers in two ways: loose / unprocessed milk and packed / processed milk. Haleeb Foods Limited (HFL) is a local company that is at the forefront of product and packaging innovation. The main characteristic of the marketing innovation of HFL was the exclusion of big milk contractors from the supply chain in the late 1990s. Haleeb Foods works mainly with small-scale producers, directly (self-collection) or indirectly (contract collection). HFL has one of the largest nation-wide distribution networks delivering high quality products, even in the most remote areas, via a network of more than 1,100 distributors. Even though HFL is a company that insures the inclusion of small-scale farmers, there are still some limitations on its approach which might, in the long run, exclude small farmers.

3rd International Consultation: Linking Farmers and Markets: Exploring Leading Practices to Foster Econ Growth in Rural India

billv — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:31:26 +0000

New Delhi, March 11-15, 2007

The Conference explored innovative approaches and new business models for linking domestic and international consumer markets with rural entrepreneurs, producer organizations, and communities. Using a unique set of instrumental case studies of innovative business practices from across the world, the conference provided a forum for discussion and debate of how to best organize the agri-food sector so that it contributes directly to (a) reducing rural poverty, (b) increasing farm income and rural employment, and (c) promoting sustainable development. An integral part of this process will be evaluating the role of public-private partnerships and industry in facilitating the establishment of alternative business models, driving technological advances and catalyzing entrepreneurial innovation within rural communities.

The political economy of corporate responsibility in India

billv — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:21:27 +0000

Examining the nature of CSR in India
Sood, A.; Arora, B.

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Technology, Business and Society Programme Paper Number 18, November 2006

Abstract [adapted from author by www.eldis.org ]

Dairy Development Programs: Benefits and Risks for Smallholders - The Case of Andhra Pradesh, India (FAO)

billv — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:36:30 +0000

Although milk production has shown remarkable growth in Andhra Pradesh over the past decade, the potential role of dairy farming as a means to improve household incomes and create rural employment is far from being fully exploited.

New business partnership to support Pakistani rural development

billv — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 17:53:30 +0000

International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) have announced a strategic partnership to engage business as a partner in sustainable development in Pakistan's rural communities. The partnership includes Nestle Pakistan, and has a focus on the dairy sector.

After cutting them out, big retail teams up with middlemen

billv — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:51:33 +0000

Livemint.com 26 Jan 08

A recent report by Ernst and Young says India has six-seven intermediaries in the fresh produce supply chain compared with two-three in developed countriesRasul BailayOnce a small wholesaler to the legions of pushcart vendors in Mumbai, Shivaji Dhembre is today part of the modern retail phenomenon that is sweeping across India. Dhembre manages sections that sell fresh produce in 10 supermarkets and hypermarkets of Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd-India's largest listed retailer has outsourced this function to him.

India: Reuters ploughs into Indian farming: Information put out on mobile phones could transform the fortunes of small farmers

billv — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:58:07 +0000

Information put out on mobile phones could transform the fortunes of small farmers -and eventually Reuters

Standing in an onion field in a village outside Pune, Chandra Kant can check weather reports, get crop spraying information and find out how much onions are fetching at the local market, all on his mobile phone, for 175 rupees (£2.19) a quarter. The service is being offered by Reuters, better known for offering news and financial information to City workers for whom £2 would not cover a run to Starbucks.