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What India needs Phygital approach in Agri Supply Chain

Agri Supply Chain

India’s food system feeds more than a billion, but sections of its supply chain continue to operate using outdated systems, manual intervention, and lack of visibility. With the industry looking towards modernisation, it’s certain that one thing stands clear: The Agriculture industry doesn’t merely require physical infrastructure or technology — it requires both, to be harmonious.

So, what is ‘Phygital’ in agri supply chains?

It’s the convergence of physical and digital ecosystems. It’s about aligning strong on-ground infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storage, with smart digital tools that introduce transparency, traceability, and efficiency. Imagine it as combining boots on the ground and brains in the cloud.

Why Does It Matters for India? 

Despite being the second-largest agricultural producer globally, India yet struggles with:

  • Post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage
  • Fragmented procurement systems
  • Limited access to credit and real-time data
  • Delayed payments and poor market integration

A Phygital model addresses these challenges head-on:

  • Warehouse Monitoring: Real-time visibility into stock, quality, and location
  • Digital Finance: Linking stored produce to instant credit via digital records
  • Phygital model has transformed stored crops into monetizable assets. Store crops are no longer a passive burden, they become active, tradable and financeable assets, unlocking liquidity and transforming rural finance.
  • Data-Driven Procurement: Better demand forecasting and pricing decisions

The Real Impact

The Phygital approach is already making a difference.
Platforms like Agri Reach have proven how digital monitoring of physical storage can reduce post-harvest losses, increase credit access, and offer farmers a fairer deal.

By creating a bridge between what happens on the ground and what can be tracked, analysed, and improved digitally, a Phygital approach builds trust, ensures speed, and scales sustainability.

The Road Ahead

To a nation with such profound rural traditions and fast-growing digital aspirations, Phygital is not voluntary — it is a necessity. The future of farming will belong to those with the ability to steward both ground and code.

Because in the agri supply chain of the future, success is where physical accuracy and digital smartness meet.

The Story Behind Agri Reach: How SLCM Patented a Post-Harvest Game Changer

In agriculture, the possibility of success does not only increase from what you grow, but how you grow it— it’s about how well you preserve it. 

For years, Indian farmers and agri-stakeholders has been battled a silent various challenges enemy of post harvest management. : post-harvest losses. Crops were grown with care, but once harvested, a large percentage wasted perished due to improper storage, handling, or logistics. This is where SLCM’s Fully Digitized Warehouse Management System, Agri Reach, stepped in — and redefined what was possible.

Agri Reach is a patented, tech-powered solution that infuses post-harvest agri logistics with standardisation and scientific rigour, regardless of place and scale. 

What makes it so revolutionary is that it can replicate the advantage of a licensed warehouse in any warehousing space — be it a rural godown or a decentralised facility.

Essentially, Agri Reach integrates a strong SOP foundation with technology-backed monitoring, quality assurance, and risk management facilities. It equips banks, financial institutions, traders and stakeholders with the confidence that the stored commodity is secure, authenticated, and well-managed.

The FICCI Report statistics speak for themselves: while the industry average post-harvest loss is at around 10%, SLCM has managed to bring this down to as little as 0.5% through the use of the Agri Reach model.

But innovation did not end there. SLCM took it one step ahead and patented Agri Reach — becoming one of the only Indian agri-logistics players with a patented post-harvest solution.

This is not a technological victory alone. It was a declaration — that post-harvest excellence is important, and that Indian innovation can address ingrained issues in agriculture of any country.

Presently, Agri Reach keeps innovating the storage, valuation, and guarding of commodities. It introduces clarity, dependability, and assurance in an industry long based on risk.

AI in Agri Risk Management: Reducing Losses through Precision Interventions

AI in Agri Risk Management

Agriculture is one of the most essential sectors in the world, and yet it is also one of those sectors that are most threatened by risks, especially as far as crop production, storage, and transportation go. Poor storage, inappropriate handling, and inefficiency in the supply chain cause quality loss, which subsequently harms the products and their dependent livelihoods.

The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that a third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted every year, with most losses taking place after harvest. Losses of this nature do not only affect the farmer’s livelihood but also exacerbate hunger and put more pressure on the planet’s natural resources. This brings to light the need for intervention and change to minimize such losses.

What is Post-Harvest Losses?

Post-harvest losses arise between the time of harvesting and when the produce eventually reaches the consumer. These are usually caused by a wide range of factors and affect all parts of the agriculture supply chain.

Farmers face certain challenges with their produce like improper & delayed quality checks, poor storage conditions, logistical challenges and market inefficiencies. These challenges create significant financial losses across the agri-supply chain. However, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we address these issues, especially in agri warehousing, providing a chance to solve these persistent challenges.

The Benefits of AI-Driven Interventions

Integrating AI into post-harvest risk management yields numerous benefits, both for SLCM and the entire agricultural value chain:

  • Reduction in Losses: AI’s precision allows for early detection of potential risks, significantly reducing spoilage and wastage. By enabling smarter decision-making, SLCM helps stakeholders across the supply chain avoid unnecessary losses.
  • Cost Efficiency: By optimizing storage, logistics, and market strategies, AI reduces resource wastage and operational costs for farmers, traders, and warehouses. SLCM has implemented these technologies to drive cost savings and improve efficiency at every step of the supply chain.
  • Sustainability: Precision interventions, such as AI-driven storage management, reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture. By curbing excessive use of resources like, energy, and chemicals, SLCM is helping make agriculture more sustainable.
  • Enhanced Profitability: By ensuring that more produce reaches the market in optimal condition, SLCM supports farmers and traders in increasing profitability. AI-driven insights and efficient operations help maximize the value of agricultural products.

Innovations in the Sector

We, at SLCM, constantly develop integrated systems of predictive analytics, IoT, and ERP that ensure seamless and efficient supply chains. Our AI-powered warehouse management systems adjust dynamically to fluctuations in environmental conditions, traffic, and commodity consumption patterns for the best possible quality of agricultural products, reducing waste and maximizing profitability.

These innovations are therefore cost-reducing, rather empowering farmers, traders, among other stakeholders, with relevant tools and technologies to maximize their operations. SLCM is creating a gap between traditional methods of agriculture and the actual future of agri-supply chains by integrating highly advanced AI technologies.

Conclusion

AI has ushered in an era of precision in agriculture by providing transformative solutions to problems that have plagued humankind for centuries: post-harvest losses. SLCM is pioneering new ways to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the agri-supply chain, from AI-based quality checks to predictive analytics for storage and market intelligence.

We are going to see further change in agriculture with AI and will develop smarter and more sustainable agricultural practices as we move into the future. SLCM remains committed to driving innovation for farmers, traders, and the overall agri-ecosystem, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly digital world.