Assessment of External Vulnerability of Rice Supply Chain Using FMEA, Bishwanath Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Abstract

The supply chain is a complex system that flows from raw materials into an end product and service through multiple stages including production, manufacturing, distribution etc. Rice is a staple crop with high per capita consumption in Bangladesh. As the country experiences rapid economic growth, the socioeconomic and environmental conditions require effective management of the rice supply chain to ensure economic stability and food security. However, severe flooding and challenges related to environmental variability as well as complex chain systems worsen chain vulnerability. This study focuses on the Bishwanath upazila in the Sylhet district heavily impacted by recent floods. A field survey was conducted along with 167 randomly selected household surveys along with Key Informant Interviews (KII) and in-depth Interviews (IDIs), as well as three Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The study employed Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) to identify and mitigate risks. In accordance with the FMEA approach, vulnerable modes across 7 stages including production, harvesting, processing, transportation, storage, distribution, and consumption were observed. The approach found that flooding, pest infestations, and drought were major issues with flooding having the most severe impact on crop production. On the other hand, consumption was the least impacted stage among the 7. The local adaptive measures were found to be insufficient leading to the development of a resilience framework. The framework recommended flood-tolerant rice varieties like Swarna Sub1 and Ciherang SUB1 which can improve yields by up to 19%. Moreover, the resilience framework focused on applying technology and using renewable energy.