Through the Policy Prism - Case Competition

Case Question

Instructions:

The following is the case question for the second round of the case competition. Following
are the instructions for the submission:

1) The teams are expected to provide a case solution, in the form of a PowerPoint
presentation.
2) The number of slides should not exceed 10, including the cover slide and Ending
slide.
3) The text should be legible and the references should be appropriately mentioned.
4) Plagiarism will not be acceptable and will lead to disqualification.

Case: Boosting India's Food Exports: Balancing Quality and Global Reach

Introduction:
India, a powerhouse in agricultural production, faces a dilemma. Despite being the world's
largest rice exporter and a major player in other staples like wheat and sugar, recent export
restrictions and high rejection rates in key markets like the US paint a concerning picture.
Between October 2019 and September 2023, India, Mexico, and China experienced
significant refusals of food export shipments to America. India's refusal rate, which measures
the percentage of shipments refused out of all food export shipments, was 0.15%. In
comparison, China's refusal rate was 0.022%, and Mexico's was 0.025%

Challenges:
• Export Restrictions: The government-imposed restrictions on rice, wheat, and sugar
exports, while intended to ensure domestic food security, disrupt global food supply
chains and damage India's reputation as a reliable supplier.
• High Rejection Rates: Stringent food safety regulations in importing countries like the
US expose gaps in India's agricultural practices. High rejection rates of Indian food
exports, often due to excessive use of pesticides and ripening agents, highlight a
need for stricter domestic regulations and improved quality control.

You are a consultant for the Indian Government, prepare a strong analysis addressing the
following questions in the presentation:
1. What policy changes can India implement to improve the quality and safety
standards of its food exports, thereby reducing rejection rates and enhancing market
access?
 2. How can India balance its need for food security with its goal of promoting
agricultural exports and strengthening geopolitical partnerships?
3. What investments in infrastructure and technology can be made to improve
agricultural practices and ensure efficient food production and processing in India?
4. Considering the potential impact on farmers' livelihoods, how can India create a
support system to incentivize them to adopt safer and more sustainable agricultural
practices?

References

1. The National News (2024), Food safety issues plagues Indias Exports,
https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/food-safety-issues-plague-indias-exports-
1.195352
2. The wall Street Journal (2024), India’s Food-Security Problem Is Also the World’s,
https://www.wsj.com/finance/commodities-futures/indias-food-security-problem-is-
the-worlds-too-07adc926
3. Food Export Rejections (2024) | ENSURE IAS: Food Export Rejections | ENSURE
IAS