In the fast-changing field of agritech, proper employee training is essential for companies involved in agricultural commodity warehousing and spot trading. A key aspect of the agricultural commodity sector is the assessment of grain quality. This assessment varies from one commodity to another and also depends on the buyer’s requirements. Employees in warehousing and spot trading need to be well trained so that employees can provide customers with the quality of products of their expectation. There are many new technologies available for grain quality assessment, but companies often use different brands of equipment that lead to varying grain quality measurements, making it difficult to analyze grain quality making the task difficult for the people dealing with agri commodity.
Like businesses in other sectors, agritech companies train their employees to meet specific requirements. However, this is a challenge in the agriculture sector as there is no standard training focused on quality assessment of agricultural commodities. Agriculture relies heavily on external factors; that’s why there is no quality control, which means that grain quality can change frequently.
Why is it tough to set parameters for the quality assessment of agricultural commodities?
As though government has set specific quality parameters for the quality assessment of the agri commodity, but parameters seem to be irrelevant, as quality of the grain varies on many factors. So there is no unified or common parameter or metric for the quality assessment of the grain.
The reason for this is that grain is not like products such as toothpaste or mouthwash, where quality control is entirely managed by the producer. It is challenging to find the same or similar quality of grain since it differs from farm to farm. Unlike other products, achieving consistent grain quality is a difficult task. Grain can show considerable variation between batches, even from the same supplier. Factors such as growing conditions, harvest timing, and storage techniques can cause inconsistencies that need to be evaluated separately.
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The Agmark parameters set by the government often do not meet the needs of corporate agritech businesses. These companies follow different standards based on their buyers’ demands.
For example, when beer factory purchases barley, their quality assessment focuses on specific parameters. Companies test for moisture content, germination rate, and diastatic power. They also assess hops quality by checking aroma, bitterness units (IBU), and essential oil content. Water quality is analyzed for pH, mineral content, and microbiological safety.
On the other hand, when barley is purchased by a cattle company, their quality assessment parameters are different. Cattle Companies require barley to feed cattle, which is why they focus on factors such as nutritional composition to measure crude protein and digestible energy. Companies monitor moisture content to prevent spoilage during storage. Grain quality is assessed by checking kernel hardness, weight, and overall appearance for any signs of damage. Contaminant testing is performed to identify mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and foreign materials to ensure safety and purity. The germination rate is checked to determine the freshness and viability of the barley. Palatability is assessed through taste and smell.
Why was Apna Godam’s barley stock rejected 10 times, and how they cracked the quality assessment test?
Apna Godam, an agritech company, faced a similar challenging situation while trying to secure a barley supply deal with a beer production brewery. Their barley stock was rejected ten times in a row by the quality assessment team at the brewery because it did not meet the required standards for beer production.
On the first attempt, their barley stock was rejected due to high moisture content in the kernels. The second time, the stock was turned away because the size of the barley kernels was not long enough to meet the brewery’s specifications.
After their stock was returned for the third time, the team at Apna Godam decided to ask the brewery about the equipment company used to measure kernel size. Apna Godam’s team purchased the same type of equipment to assess the kernels. However, once again, their barley stock was rejected. When the team inquired about the reason for the rejection, team discovered that the brand of equipment they had bought did not match the one used by the brewery.
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Determined to succeed, the Apna Godam team asked the brewery which brand they used for measuring barley kernels and acquired that specific brand. Unfortunately, their stock was rejected once more because they did not use the equipment in the same way the brewery’s quality assessment team uses it for measuring barley intended for beer production.
In response, the Apna Godam team requested to learn how the brewery used the equipment so they could replicate the same methods. This cycle of rejection and inquiry continued for ten rounds, with their stock returning each time.
Finally, after much perseverance and a commitment to understanding the quality assessment procedure for barley kernels, the team successfully cracked the code. With their newfound knowledge, they were able to meet the brewery’s standards and ultimately secure the deal for barley supply.
Through this experience, the team at Apna Godam learned that assessing the quality of grains cannot be confined to a specific set of parameters. There is no single metric or quality standard for evaluating agricultural commodities. Each buyer has unique requirements for quality, and understanding these can only be achieved through a process of trial and error.
How to maintain standard parameters for grain quality assessment?
There is no unified or common standard for assessing the quality of agricultural products. To tackle this issue, quality assayers working in agri warehouses need to be well-informed about various quality assessment parameters. By mastering different assessment techniques and standards, assayers can better meet the diverse needs of a larger number of buyers, just as Apna Godam successfully did.
To help understand the quality assessment required by their clients, Apna Godam trains their employees to ask questions about client requirements and ensures assayers are well-versed in this subject to meet client needs and encourage repeat business.
The team at Apna Godam recognizes that meeting industry standards and regulations adds another layer of complexity to the quality assessment process. Ensuring compliance with both local and international quality standards requires thorough documentation and regular audits. Apna godam’s team is committed to this as they are part of a new sector that opened just a few years ago. And team need to learn and understand everything about it through a trial-and-error method to figure out the standards.
The agritech startup collect, analyze, and interpret data from various tests, even when it can be quite challenging, especially when it involves large datasets and the need for long-term tracking of quality trends. Their team believes in meeting high consumer expectations for quality and safety, as companies must conduct careful assessments to maintain their brand reputation.
These factors together make grain quality assessment a complex and often time-consuming task. It requires careful attention to detail and a systematic approach. Quality assessment in agriculture is a complicated field with no clear consensus on standards, but it is a necessary part of the sector, and the Apna Godam team understands this.
