The Role of Policymakers in Potential Strengthening to Improve the Safety of the Vegetable in the Supply Chain: SWOT Analysis during COVID-۱۹

Fresh vegetables can play an important role in health and food security. This study aimed to assess the safety of the vegetable supply chain in Iran during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic by strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted in two phases in ۲۰۲۱. First, in the cross-sectional study, ۱۹۲ staff were randomly selected from five major centers of vegetable retail centers. Then, semi-structured interviews were done with ten stakeholders, and a SWOT analysis was completed. Results: Half of the participants had desirable hygienic practices, ۳۹.۶% had acceptable, and ۸.۹% had weak practice scores. The practice of participants whose educational level was BSc and above was better than that of illiterates (OR =۱۵.۳۸, ۹۵% CI =۱.۶۱-۱۴.۵۷, P=۰.۰۱). SWOT analysis results identified a poor shelf-life of vegetables, weak technology in planting, harvesting, and distributing vegetables. Conclusion: Policymakers can utilize the practical solutions for taking action in the potential strengthening of vegetable safety in the supply chain to improve public health during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vegetable safety ، Supply chain ، COVID-۱۹ pandemic ، SWOT analysis ، Health policy