A traditionally followed basic framework for rice supply chain management generally follows the
multi stage supply chain system including: Farmers as the basic supplier of paddy, middlemen or
agents, rice processing industries, distribution agents, and retailers; as the interlinked upstream
and downstream stages. During the long supply chain process many activities take place at every
stage which affect the function of next stage and requires it to co-operate in the customised
manner. To understand the detailed process, the study describes a detailed supply chain
framework, as shown in ‘Figure 2’, which explains the complete supply chain activities currently
being practiced in the rice sector. The process clearly explains where the supply chain requires
the intermediaries and where it is sourced and distributed directly to the next major stage.