Supply Chain Practices and Operational Efficiency of Agriculture and Food Authority in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze supply chain practices and operational efficiency under the moderation of adaptation of climate change. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to examine the influence of strategic supplier partnership on operational efficiency of Agriculture and food Authority in Kenya, to evaluate the influence of inventory management on operational efficiency of Agriculture and food Authority in Kenya, to assess the influence of supply chain information sharing on operational efficiency of Agriculture and food Authority in Kenya, to establish the influence of logistics management on operational efficiency of Agriculture and food Authority in Kenya and to determine the influence of customer relationship management on operational efficiency of Agriculture and food Authority in Kenya and the moderating effect of climate change adaptation on the link between supply chain practices and operational efficiency of AFA in Kenya. The study was supported by lean theory, transaction cost theory, social network theory, Network perspective theory and Trust based rationalism theory. The study adopted the mixed method research design. The study target population was Agriculture and Food Authority directorates. A sample size of 380 respondents was employed. The study used census approach. A pilot study was conducted to measure the research instruments reliability and validity. Structured questionnaires and interview schedules facilitated collection of the data from primary sources. Quantitative data was coded into a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 22) as a tool to aid analysis and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Descriptive and inferential analysis was conducted to analyze the data. Hierarchical multiple regression was suitable in establishing the cause effect of the study variables and the relationship between variables was determined through Correlation analysis. The data presentation was achieved using tables. The study found out that strategic supplier partnership had no significant effect on operational efficiency of AFA (b=0.019, p>0.05), logistics management and operational efficiency of AFA are positively and significantly related (b=0.160, p<0.001), inventory management and operational efficiency of AFA are positively and significantly related (b=0.265, p<0.001), supply chain information sharing and operational efficiency of AFA are positively and significantly related ( b= 0.109, p<0.05) also, customer relationship management and operational efficiency of AFA are positively and significantly related (b=0.181, p<0.001). This implied that supply chain practices have a positive and significant influence on operational efficiency of AFA. Further, the study concluded that climate change adaptation had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between supply chain practices and operational efficiency of AFA in Kenya. The conclusion was drawn from the findings in order to find out the contribution of existence of justified relationship between supply chain practices and operational efficiency of AFA. The study adopted appropriate measures in both policy and managerial recommendations that AFA should embrace in enhancing the implementation of best and efficient supply chain management practices at the disposal of firms’ performance