By Kavin Manoharan

A decentralized immutable append-only public ledger​

In India, the milk supply chain involves multiple stakeholders like farmers, collection centers, processing units, distributors, and retailers. Challenges include:

• Lack of transparency in milk quality and pricing.
• Delays in payments to farmers.
• Difficulty in tracing the source of milk in case of quality issues (e.g., contamination).

A blockchain-based system is implemented to track milk from the farm to the consumer. Here's how it works:

1. Farmers Register Milk Production:

   • Farmers record details like milk quantity, quality (fat content, purity), and timestamps on the blockchain when they supply milk to collection centers.

2. Collection Centers:

   • Collection centers verify the milk quality and update the blockchain with additional details (e.g., temperature, storage conditions).

3. Processing Units:

   • Processing units (e.g., dairy companies) record processing details like pasteurization, packaging, and batch numbers on the blockchain.

4. Distributors and Retailers:

   • Distributors and retailers update the blockchain with shipment and delivery details, ensuring the milk reaches stores on time.

5. Consumers:

   • Consumers can scan a QR code on the milk packet to see the entire journey of the milk, from the farm to the store, ensuring transparency and trust.

• Transparency: All stakeholders can access real-time data, ensuring trust and accountability.
• Fair Payments: Farmers receive timely and fair payments through smart contracts.
• Quality Assurance: Contaminated milk can be traced back to its source quickly, ensuring food safety.
• Efficiency: Reduces paperwork and manual errors, streamlining the supply chain.