An analytic hierarchy process applied in a Philippine vegetable supply chain: uncovering decision drivers across chain actors

Purpose Agri-food supply chains are inherently complex. To shed light on them, this paper investigates the decision-making dynamics within the Philippine vegetable supply chain, characterized by fragmentation and independent decision-making by various players. It aims to identify the key criteria influencing the decisions, particularly in supplier and buyer selection, to provide insights into the operations of the supply chain. Design/methodology/approach The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to identify and rank the criteria influencing decision-making among different vegetable supply chain players. Sixty individuals involved in the vegetable supply chain in selected cities in Leyte, Philippines, were interviewed. Findings The results reveal that economic benefits remain a dominant factor in decision-making across the vegetable supply chain, although specific priorities vary depending on each player’s role. The research also identifies a misalignment of priorities among the different players and emphasizes the significant role of wholesalers in influencing the overall dynamics of the supply chain. Research limitations/implications The study’s limitations, including its geographical scope and the inherent subjectivity of the AHP method, underscore the need for further research to validate and expand the findings. Other decision models are recommended to factor in the variability inherent in agri-food supply chains. Originality/value This study offers a deeper understanding of decision-making in the largely unexplored Philippine vegetable supply chain as well as insights for improving supply chain efficiency and sustainability through AHP.