Vicente Mayamaya

IT-ETHICS

Professor Paul Pajo Jr. II

ITC e-Choupal Case Study Guide Questions

  1. What is the innovation of the e-Choupal?

e-Choupal allows to connect subsistence to farmers with large firms, current agricultural research, and global markets (pg 320, par 1)

  1. Discuss the paradox of Indian Agriculture?

Agriculture is economically, nutritionally, and socially vital to India. It contributes 23% of the gross domestic product (GDP), feeds a billion people, and employs 66 percent of the workforce. (pg 320, par 3)

  1. Why is soya an important innovation in the Indian oilseed complex?

Forty percent of the increased output was attributable to the introduction of new crops (soya and sunflower). Soya therefore represents an important innovation in the Indian oilseed complex that is resulting in better utilization of scarce resources and greater cropping intensity.(pg 323, par 2)

  1. Describe the marketing process before the introduction of e-Choupal.

There are three commercial channels for the products: manis, traders, or eventual resale to crushers, and producer-run cooperative societies for crushing in cooperative mills. The farmers traditionally keep a small amount for their personal consumption and get the produce processed in a small-scale job-shop crushing-plant called ghanti. (pg 323, par 4)

  1. Why is the mandi not an optimal procurement channel?

Because they serve as the delivery point for the farmers to trade their products to the market

  1. What were the advantages of ITC's competitors? How did ITC address them?

ITC began with buying and exporting DOC in product dynamics. ITC then began renting processing plant time and buying soya from mandis. ITC’s procurement has grown rapidly since, and its initiative has seen the introduction of professional practices, transparency, and formal contractual relationships between agents and buyers. (pg 329, par 2)

  1. How did ITC "re-engineer as opposed to reconstruct"?

They re-engineered the system rather than reconstruct it because they believe that is very useful. They kept the efficient providers and created roles for the inefficient ones.

  1. How did ITC "address the whole, not just a part"?

The farmer’s universe consists of many activities, ranging from procuring inputs to selling produce. Today the village trader services the spectrum of the farmer’s needs. (pg 332, par 4)

  1. Was it wise for ITC to install an IT-driven solution where most people would not?

It depends; it allows them to open an opportunity for a new technology. But if the people don’t need it, it would be useless.

  1. Why does the ITC insist that the sanchalaks NOT give up farming?

ITC insists that at no time should the sanchalaks give up farming, for this would compromise the trust the sanchalak commands. The fact that the sanchalak works on commission could undermine hi credibility. (pg 336, par 6)

  1. Why did the samyojaks introduce the ITC to the sanchalaks?

It will increase their profit and to be acceptable in the village

  1. Describe the new ITC value chain. How different is it from the former value chain?

They reduced the chain which they believe will be efficient and effective.

  1. What is the social impact of the e-Choupals?

Through the introduction of e-Choupals, the farmers will be more productive which allow them to raise income.

  1. Describe Wave 6 of the e-Choupal. DO you think it is feasible?

The wave 6 is about the ambitious vision of sourcing IT-enabled services from the rural India. Personally, I think it will be feasible if the people are open to the advancement in the technology.

  1. Can something similar to an e-Choupal be implemented in the Philippines?

Yes, since one of our main produce is root crops and wheat grains.