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Research Article | volume 2 Issue 2 (April-June, 2026) | Pages 32 - 51
Trust and Information Sharing as Drivers of Supply Chain Performance: Evidence from Horticulture Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir
 ,
1
Research Scholar, Department of Management Studies, University of Kashmir
2
Professor, Department of Management Studies, University of Kashmir
Under a Creative Commons license
Open Access
Received
April 5, 2026
Revised
April 20, 2026
Accepted
April 25, 2026
Published
May 4, 2026
Abstract

Purpose – This study investigates the influence of trust (trustworthiness) and information sharing on supply chain performance (SCP) in the horticulture sector of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India. Supply chain inefficiencies, largely rooted in relational deficits and poor information flows, continue to undermine the competitiveness of smallholder horticulture farmers. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Social Exchange Theory (SET), this paper examines how trust and information sharing shape key SCP dimensions- reliability, responsiveness, agility, asset management and cost reduction. Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive, exploratory and cross-sectional research design was employed. Primary data were collected from 395 horticulture farmers across six major mandis in J&K using a multistage cluster sampling technique. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) via Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) in Smart-PLS was used to test the hypotheses. The measurement model was validated through confirmatory factor analysis assessing reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. Findings – All hypotheses were supported. Trust exerted a strong positive effect on overall SCP (β=0.371, p<0.001), with particularly strong influence on agility (β=0.453) and cost reduction (β=0.571). Information sharing significantly influenced SCP (β=0.453, p<0.001), demonstrating its strongest effect on reliability (β=0.560) and agility (β=0.472). All Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability values exceeded 0.77 and average variance extracted (AVE) surpassed the 0.50 threshold across all constructs, confirming robust measurement quality. Research limitations/implications – The study is cross-sectional and limited to J&K; longitudinal and multi-regional designs could strengthen generalisability. Findings offer practical guidance to policymakers and mandi administrators to institutionalise trust-building mechanisms and information sharing platforms. Practical implications – Strengthening interpersonal trust and digitising market information flows can substantially enhance supply chain responsiveness, agility and cost efficiency for horticulture farmers operating in J&K's unique socio-geographic conditions. Originality/value – This is among the first empirical studies to apply PLS-SEM to examine trust and information sharing as co-drivers of multi-dimensional SCP in an agricultural context, specifically within J&K's horticulture supply chains.

Keywords
Trust
Information Sharing
Supply Chain Performance
Reliability
Responsiveness
Agility
Asset Management
Cost Reduction Horticulture
Jammu and Kashmir
PLS-SEM
Agri-food Supply Chain
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