Cepham initiates data-based equitable solution for women of the supply chain

By Danielle Masterson

- Last updated on GMT

The ingredient supplier recently started an equitable employment solution for everyone involved in the supply chain. Of these active smallholder-farm owners, women make up about 28%, despite being 50% of the stakeholders.

“I saw that women who were doing the post-harvest processing were looking at the entire process with different eyes. And the way they were putting the personal impact, how it should be cleaned because somebody's going to use it as a food–that really affected me very deeply. And I said, ‘what if we work on this aspect where a woman's touch is needed on your food supply?’ It’s not just the touch, it's the kind of care they have and if we can use it somewhere in our supply chain. That led to other thoughts besides looking at what kind of data, but what we have seen over the years in the last 20 years in the working supply chain in Africa and India. Looking at what the gaps are and how we address these gaps using data as a science behind everything,” explained Cepham founder and president, Anand Swaroop, PhD.

“This perspective is something we profoundly lack in our supply chain – that human element, a consciousness that is so critical.”

Swaroop says Cepham’s starting point to address gender-based disparities begins with analyzing the data they’ve collected throughout the years from their supply chain for gender-based economic indicators. Additional data is being sourced by a few large-sector fertilizer companies in India to establish correlations. With this information, Cepham is developing a process to anonymize worker’s names and genders to eliminate bias in order to fairly identify the most productive workers and reward them based on accomplishments–not gender.

Once the information is in, the company hopes to use that data to identify gaps in the workforce across all levels of the supply chain, partner with suppliers that prioritize gender equality, and advocate for change, among many other goals.

Cepham plans to use all available resources to accomplish its goals including government initiatives such as access to education, vocational training, skill development programs, and increased access to credit women farmers; private sector initiatives that aim to provide better working conditions and fair wages for female workers in the agricultural industry; non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide support and advocacy for female farmers; and international organizations that promote gender equity through improved access to land rights and other productive resources, such as the United Nations Women’s Fund for Gender Equality (FGE).

Swaroop said giving credit to the hardworking women in the supply chain creates a company culture that motivates all employees to be more productive.

Related topics Suppliers Supply chain Women's health

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Navigating Supply Chain Challenges in 2025

Navigating Supply Chain Challenges in 2025

Content provided by Gemini Pharmaceuticals, Inc | 26-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Happily, our industry successfully weathered the Covid storm. While Covid is still with us, and probably will always be, it is no longer the market-impacting...

Healthy “SHE” for  Healthy Family

Healthy “SHE” for Healthy Family

Content provided by Chemical Resources (CHERESO) | 12-Sep-2024 | White Paper

SheVari4T standardised to Shatavarin IV is Known for its medicinal properties, and has been tailored specifically for women's self-care needs, offering...

Robuvit® Supports Sports Performance and Energy

Robuvit® Supports Sports Performance and Energy

Content provided by Horphag Research | 11-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Physical exercise is a vital component of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet plays a significant role for those who want to stay fit or want...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars