Tempe, Arizona, USA: A month-long initiative led by the India Policy and Economy Research Club at Arizona State University (ASU) concluded on October 16, coinciding with World Food Day. ASU students addressed one of India’s most pressing issues—food security—by developing actionable policy strategies aimed at enhancing agricultural systems, streamlining logistics, and empowering farmers.
The program, lasting an entire month, culminated with presentations from four student teams under the theme, “Democratisation of Agriculture for Global Food Security.” Computer science major Manasvenee Premkumar opened her team’s presentation by illustrating a farmer’s everyday challenges. “Each morning, as sunlight touches the golden fields, a farmer begins his day full of hope,” she shared, according to a university statement. “He cultivates crops not only for his family but for thousands more. Yet after harvest, storage is insufficient, and he is forced to sell his produce at less than half its worth. His hard work and livelihood are lost.”
Premkumar’s team, which included Srihitha Jaligama, a supply chain management student, and Havish Akarapu, specialising in business data analytics, concentrated on modernising India’s agricultural logistics. Their study revealed that although India produces around 328 million metric tons of grains each year, available storage can only accommodate 145 million metric tons. This gap exposes farmers to losses after harvest, price manipulation, and poor supply chain coordination.
To tackle these problems, the team proposed a three-step strategy focused on improving storage solutions, removing intermediaries, and implementing real-time tracking and coordination systems to guarantee fair compensation for farmers.
“India’s economy is fundamentally agrarian,” noted Mudit Lal, a robotics student and the first officer of the India Policy and Economy Research Club. “The government is actively seeking solutions to these challenges, and this project allows us to contribute in our own way,” Lal emphasised that the initiative encourages students to view themselves as agents of tangible policy change. “Policy is not shaped only by politicians or officers. Students like you can make a difference,” he added.
The club has also engaged with policymakers in India, including Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who showed interest in testing the students’ proposals and analysing their potential impact.
Around 25 students from various majors participated in the program. Ten students from the four finalist teams will now compile comprehensive project reports for possible pilot implementation. The participants received mentorship from experts, including Rimjhim Aggarwal, a professor in ASU’s School of Sustainability; Sabyasachi Sen, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering at Cornell University; and Prakash Jha, assistant professor of agricultural climatology at Mississippi State University.
During the symposium, Professor Jha highlighted the significance of World Food Day, which commemorates the establishment of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. “Nearly 675 million people worldwide go to bed hungry every night,” he said. “When designing policies, it’s essential to think about the people affected and how your ideas can work in real-world conditions.”
Other student proposals emphasised sustainable farming methods, efficient fertiliser usage, and the cultivation of indigenous seed varieties to reduce India’s dependence on imported pulses.
Founded earlier this year, the India Policy and Economy Research Club aims to engage students with international policy issues and promote data-driven, socially responsible innovation.
