Influence of smallholders’ and intermediary functions on agri-supply chain performance in malaysia’s horticulture industry

• Main Author: Shahiida Musa
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: SB446-446.6 Horticultural service industry
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41244/1/24%20PAGES.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41244/2/FULLTEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41244/

The horticulture industry in Malaysia has recently shifted from supply chain to value chain. These changes are characterised by consumer pull market, high-value products, global outsourcing, and utilisation of post-harvest technology, but these changes do not benefit the horticulture production at farm level. Although there were numerous studies on value creation, studies on the interorganisational structure and holistic framework of value creation with the integration of transactional-relational approach from the perspectives of smallholders and intermediaries to their respective functions remain inadequate. Thus, this study aimed to assess the integration of transactional and relational approaches in the relationship between smallholders’ and intermediaries’ functions as well as their effects on the agri-supply chain performance. The study employed a mix-methods approach, which involved 410 smallholders from each state in the questionnaire survey and 17 intermediaries from major cities in Malaysia in the semistructured interviews. This study analysed quantitative and qualitative data using SmartPLS 3 version 3.2.8 and ATLAS.ti, respectively. The result and outcomes of this study demonstrated the significance of intermediaries’ marketing and information functions. These smallholders also expressed their interest to have online access to relevant information. The integration of transactional and relational approaches is deemed crucial to deliver high agri-supply chain performance. Considering that this study only provided empirical evidence, future studies are recommended. This study also presented theoretical and practical implications for effective policy development in Malaysia’s horticulture industry.