4. Results
4.1. Mangosteen Supply Chain
From the survey, we can draw the mangosteen supply chain, as shown in Figure 1. Note that the existing supply chain may include other channels as well. The major stakeholders of the mangosteen supply chain are:
1. Farmers: Farmers acquire the necessary supplies from suppliers, and hire laborers from local or other areas to grow mangosteens. It takes several years for mangosteen farmers to produce harvestable quantities of fruit.
Currently, most farmers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However the number of farmers using organic fertilizers is increasing due to several factors, such as the high price of chemical fertilizers and customer requirements. The government supports group activities and cooperation among farmers, but there is a lack of local leadership in some small villages.
2. Groups of farmers: In some villages, small-sized farmers jointly conduct agricultural and marketing activities on the basis of self and mutual assistance among the members. These groups can be farmers groups, cooperatives, or community enterprises.
3. Collectors: Collectors gather the fruits from one or more farmers and distribute them to their customers.
Collectors either pick fruit directly from farms or wait for farmers to deliver to their warehouses. Their activities also include grading, packing, and delivering to customers.
4. Wholesalers and retailers: Wholesalers buy large quantities of mangosteens from farmers and distribute the fruit to retailers. Retailers are the merchants in markets, supermarkets or hypermarkets who sell mangosteens to consumers.
5. Manufacturers: Such enterprises process fresh mangosteens into products such as frozen mangosteens, juices, jams, cosmetics, snacks, etc. Some manufacturers are also exporters.
6. Exporters: Exporters export fresh mangosteens or their products to international markets.
7. Government: The government has a role in supporting farmers and groups of farmers by providing expertise, funding and technology. In addition, the government has instituted an expanded international marketing campaign.