Procurement in agriculture refers to the systematic process of sourcing, purchasing, and managing agricultural produce and input materials in a manner that ensures quality, cost efficiency, timely availability, and continuity of operations. In agribusiness, procurement is not limited to buying farm outputs such as grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, or livestock; it also includes the acquisition of seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, machinery, packaging materials, and other inputs required for production and processing. The nature of agriculture—being seasonal, perishable, geographically dispersed, and highly dependent on climatic conditions—makes procurement a complex function. Over time, different procurement models have evolved to address these unique characteristics. One of the most traditional models is the open market procurement model. In this system, agribusiness firms, traders, or processors purchase produce directly from open markets such as mandis or wholesale markets. In India, regulated markets governed by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee framework play a major role in this model. Farmers bring their produce to these markets, and buyers participate in auctions or negotiated transactions. The advantage of this model lies in flexibility and competitive pricing due to multiple buyers and sellers. However, it often involves intermediaries, leading to higher transaction costs and reduced price realization for farmers. Quality consistency may also be difficult to maintain because procurement is not based on pre-agreed standards. Another important model is centralized procurement by government agencies. In India, agencies such as the Food Corporation of India procure staple grains like wheat and rice at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by the government. This model is designed to ensure price stability for farmers and food security for consumers through public distribution systems. Procurement centers are established during harvest seasons, and produce meeting specified quality standards is purchased directly from farmers. The benefits of this model include assured markets and reduced price risk for farmers. However, it often faces issues of delayed payments, storage constraints, high carrying costs, and regional imbalances in procurement. Contract farming is another widely adopted procurement model in agribusiness. Under this system, agribusiness firms enter into pre-season agreements with farmers to produce specific crops of desired quality and quantity. The contract typically specifies price, quality standards, input supply arrangements, and technical guidance. Companies involved in food processing, export-oriented horticulture, and seed production frequently use this model. Contract