Purpose: Blockchain is an evolving technology that has an impact on a variety of industries and related operations including food supply chain. There are several challenges associated in the implementation of blockchain in the food supply chain. As a result, the goal of this research is to identify and analyse the barriers associated with the implementation of blockchain in food supply chains.Design/methodology/approach: A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify 16 primary barriers associated with the implementation of blockchain technology in the food supply chain and experts finalise these identified barriers and further categorise them into four groups. Furthermore, the best worst method is used to prioritise the finalised barriers.Findings: The findings suggest that “technological barriers” and “organisational barriers” are primary barriers among the identified barriers for the implementation of blockchain. These barriers could be mitigated through supply chain collaboration, efficient blockchain technology development through research and development, and increasing technical competence.Research limitations/implications: In terms of limitation, there is a possibility that some barriers were overlooked in the literature review process, and expert judgement might be prejudiced. This paper examines the blockchain implementation in the food supply chain, to assist policymakers in overcoming these barriers and ensuring effective adoption.Originality/value: This study focuses on the effective implementation of blockchain technology in the food supply chain in the context of emerging economies.

The study aims to identify the determinants of digital financial inclusion (DFI) and its role in micro enterprises’ ease of doing business. The study is based on the World Bank’s Enterprises Survey of Micro Firms (ESM) 2022 data of 998 micro-enterprises. The variables that measure access and use of digital finance are extracted from the data. Two sets of independent variables, namely digital resource capability and firms and owners’ characteristics, are taken as explanatory variables of digital financial inclusion. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been applied to analyze the difference in perceived business obstacles across the micro-enterprises with and without access and use of digital finance. Further, a logistic regression model is developed to analyze the determinants of DFI. The findings of the study reveal that digital financial inclusion helps to face obstacles in business regulation and handle market externalities. Further, estimates of both the logistic regression model and marginal effects suggest that access to the internet, education, and owner experience are instrumental in digital financial inclusion among micro-enterprises. This study may be helpful for various stakeholders, such as the government, promoters of entrepreneurship, banks, and international organizations working in digital financial inclusion. The originality of the study lies in exploring the determinants of DFI among micro-enterprises, which are still unexplored in the case of India using extensive and specific micro enterprise’s data collected by the World Bank.

Purpose: This study aims at identifying a set of determinants that affect halal food purchase intention and measures the relative ranks of these determinants in purchasing halal food among Muslim consumers in India.Design/methodology/approach: Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach has been employed in the research, which is an expert opinion-based approach. The opinions of experienced academicians and marketing professionals have been recorded for reaching to the conclusions. Matrice d' impacts croises multiplication appliqué an classement (MICMAC) analysis has also been applied to examine the driving and dependent power of these determinants.Findings: Driver power–dependence matrix reveals that although knowledge of halal and attitude are weak drivers, yet they are strongly dependent upon other determinants. These two variables are at the top of the ISM digraph hierarchy. Food safety and halal labeling have strong driving power, as well as strong dependence. Three determinants, namely brand origin, religiosity and price, have strong driving powers and weak dependence. These variables lay at the bottom level of the ISM model.Practical implications: This study provides a better understanding of the determinants of halal food purchase intention. This will help the marketers for making appropriate and effective product design and other marketing strategies suited to the needs of the consumer.Originality/value: This is the first study that examines the interrelationships between determinants and relative rank of these determinants in halal food purchase, using ISM approach and MICMAC analysis.