Stop the Rejections: Farm-Level Pesticide Control Key to Saving India's Rice Exports
Industry leaders at BIRC warn that farm-level pesticide control and traceability are vital to stop shipment rejections and protect India's reputation.
Indian rice exporters are facing a critical wake-up call to overhaul their supply chain management to curb the rising tide of shipment rejections in international markets. During the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC), industry experts warned that failing to implement strict farm-level pesticide management and robust traceability could severely damage both the profitability of exporters and India's global reputation as a premier rice supplier.
The Cost of Contamination: Shocking Statistics
The scale of the problem became evident during a panel discussion on rice export quality and certification. Mirza Alam, Vice-President of AHK Group, revealed alarming data regarding shipments to European markets for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. According to his analysis, pesticide residues were responsible for a staggering 69 per cent of rejections, while aflatoxins and other mycotoxins accounted for 23 per cent of the failures.
From Reaction to Prevention
Experts argued that the current industry approach is flawed, relying too heavily on testing after the product is already processed. Poorvi Shah, Head of Food Testing Services at SGS India, emphasized that the sector must shift from a "testing and reacting" model to one of "anticipating and preventing." She stressed that food safety assurance must be integrated throughout the entire supply chain rather than treated as a final hurdle.
The Need for Farm-to-Port Traceability
Establishing accountability is a major challenge in the current system. Anand Sharma, Senior Manager at EAS, advocated for a comprehensive farm-to-port traceability system. He pointed out that a simple residue finding does not automatically prove pesticide misuse; instead, a deep dive into documented evidence is required to find the root cause.
To achieve this, Sharma suggested that exporters must meticulously link:
- Pesticide application records
- Detailed crop histories
- Supplier information
- Laboratory findings
Solving the Problem at the Root
The consensus among leaders is that the solution starts with the farmer. Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy, Managing Director of Eurofins Analytical Services India, argued that rejections will not decrease unless farmers are provided with actual solutions to mitigate risks. He proposed the introduction of mobile testing laboratories located near agricultural mandis, which would allow for the identification of compliant paddy before it is even procured.
Adding to this, Avinash Maheshwari, CEO of GEO-CHEM LAB, noted that quality checks must be a continuous process—starting before procurement and continuing through milling, sampling, and final shipment. He also cautioned exporters to be extremely diligent in reviewing buyer specifications alongside official regulatory requirements.
Financial Strain and Technological Fixes
The struggle for quality compliance is not just a regulatory issue but a financial one. Isha Garg, Director of VI Exports, highlighted the heavy financial burden caused by repeated testing and certification. She noted that discrepancies between different laboratory results often lead to shipment delays, further squeezing the already narrow margins of exporters.
As a way forward, Sandeep Patankar, National Head of Sales and Marketing at SGS India, suggested the implementation of QR-code-enabled traceability. This technology would allow stakeholders to track consignments with precision and quickly pinpoint the exact source of any quality failure.
The discussions at BIRC made one thing clear: protecting the credibility of Indian rice on the global stage requires a coordinated front involving farmers, millers, exporters, and testing agencies working in unison.