Volume 13, Issue 6 (June 2026), Pages: 103-114

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 Original Research Paper

Supply chain management practices and performance in the banana industry of Nueva Ecija, Philippines

 Author(s): 

Romeo B. Campos *

 Affiliation(s):

College of Management and Business Technology, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Cabanatuan City, Philippines

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 * Corresponding Author. 

   Corresponding author's ORCID profile:  https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8828-8911

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 
https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.06.010

 Abstract

Given the critical role of effective supply chain management (SCM) in reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring the marketability of agricultural products such as bananas, this study investigated the SCM practices and performance of the banana industry in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 53 banana farmers operating as small-scale sole proprietorships across four municipalities. The research instrument, a validated and reliable questionnaire, assessed business and owner profiles, nine SCM practice components, and three SCM performance dimensions. The findings revealed a notable gap between operational strengths and strategic weaknesses. Farmers demonstrated strong capabilities in operational areas, with well-developed logistics and transportation practices, high overall output performance and flexibility performance, and developing resource performance. However, significant deficiencies were identified in strategic SCM functions, particularly in integrated operations planning, inventory management, and supply chain information technology. Other SCM components, including procurement and manufacturing, warehousing, material handling and packaging, customer accommodation, and relationship management, showed foundational or developing practices. The study concludes that although the banana industry in Nueva Ecija demonstrates strong operational performance, a critical gap remains in strategic and information-driven SCM. This limitation affects profitability and resilience, highlighting the need for interventions that can bridge the gap between operational expertise and strategic planning to improve the industry's competitiveness and sustainability.

 © 2026 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

Supply chain management, Banana industry, Post-harvest losses, Operational performance, Strategic planning

 Article history

Received 25 August 2025, Received in revised form 3 June 2026, Accepted 10 June 2026

 Acknowledgment

The author gratefully acknowledged the support and assistance provided by Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) in the completion of this research. 

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

An ethical consideration in this study is ensuring the confidentiality and voluntary participation of all respondents, with informed consent obtained prior to data collection to protect the privacy and rights of banana farmers involved in the research. 

 Citation:

Campos RB (2026). Supply chain management practices and performance in the banana industry of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 13(6): 103-114

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