Development of a framework for resilience and sustainability: a case of a product from an informal sector

Purpose In recent times, the concept of promoting sustainable production and consumption of products that create livelihoods is highly in focus. This study undertakes cane jaggery, also known as panela (Latin America) and Kokuto (Japan), a non-refined sustainable product from an informal sector that has been known for its immune-boosting properties since ancient times. However, within the Indian context, its manufacturing is classified as an unorganized cottage sector, practiced predominantly by farmers or processors with limited access to financial resources and modernization tools. The purpose of this study is to understand the barriers associated with this unregulated industry that prevent it from growing into the domestic and global markets. The study also emphasizes indigenous industry focus, sustainable development goals (SDGs) alignment and the role of policymakers and government in uplifting livelihoods. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing a holistic approach, the research combines an extensive literature review and interviews with experts from farmer producer organizations, academia and unit operators. This study employs the Fuzzy Best Worst Method and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory under fuzzy settings to scrutinize barriers. Findings The findings of the study show that the lack of awareness about government initiatives and programs among sugarcane growers and processors is the dominant barrier impeding the sector from expanding. In addition, this paper attempts to map the findings and policy implications with the concept of sustainability realizations and the principles of flexible systems management to enhance the reliability and flexibility of the proposed framework. Research limitations/implications Study limitations include potential biases in expert opinions and variations across different regions of India. Additionally, barrier selection may change with evolving government policies and industry dynamics. Originality/value This paper introduces a generic framework for the unorganized sector applied in the context of the jaggery system. This study is the first to analyze barriers in the unorganized jaggery sector using primarily collected data that mimics the sector’s actual scenario.