Project Overview

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), established by an act of Parliament in 1972, is mandated to promote the marine products industry with special reference to exports from India. MPEDA is empowered to regulate exports of marine products and ensure sustained, quality seafood exports from the country. Athena Infonomics was entrusted to undertake an evaluation and impact assessment of MPEDA's Central Sector Scheme for the period 2017-2020. This comprehensive study covered all Indian coastal states, employing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) REESI Framework and mixed methods to gather insights from key stakeholders in the marine export ecosystem.

Project Objectives

• Evaluate the impact of MPEDA's Central Sector Scheme across Indian coastal states
• Assess the scheme's relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact using the OECD REESI Framework
• Analyze the user-friendliness of the e-mpeda portal using the Heuristic Evaluation method
• Provide directional recommendations addressing the needs of various stakeholders
• Highlight the impact of MPEDA's training programs and support services, including QC and ELISA laboratories and export facilitation certificates

Impact

• Comprehensive assessment of MPEDA's efforts in promoting marine product exports
• Insights into the differential impact of the scheme across coastal states
• Evaluation of training programs, support services, and export facilitation measures
• Assessment of the e-mpeda portal's user experience across multiple dimensions
• Identification of areas for improvement in scheme design and execution

Key Insights

• Effectiveness of MPEDA's initiatives in augmenting seafood exports
• Stakeholder feedback on the scheme's implementation and impact across different coastal states
• User experience analysis of the e-mpeda portal, including aspects such as visibility, flexibility, consistency, error prevention, and recovery
• Identification of strengths and weaknesses in MPEDA's support services and training programs
• Understanding of the scheme's contribution to the overall growth of India's marine products export sector

Athena's Role

• Conducted a comprehensive evaluation using the OECD REESI Framework (Relevance, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Impact)
• Employed mixed methods to gather feedback from key stakeholders in the marine export ecosystem
• Utilized the Heuristic Evaluation method to assess the user-friendliness of the e-mpeda portal across ten dimensions
• Provided directional recommendations for enhancing the scheme's impact and addressing stakeholder needs
• Analyzed the scheme's performance and differential impact across various coastal states
• Offered insights to improve MPEDA's support services, training programs, and export facilitation measures
• Evaluated the effectiveness of MPEDA's QC and ELISA laboratories and export facilitation certificates

This evaluation by Athena Infonomics provides MPEDA with valuable insights to refine its Central Sector Scheme, enhance its digital platform, and strengthen its role in promoting India's marine product exports. The comprehensive nature of the study, covering all coastal states and employing rigorous frameworks, ensures a thorough understanding of the scheme's impact and areas for future improvement.

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To know more about the project, reach out to Dr. Rajesh Khanna and Sairam Muthuswamy.

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‍Note: Image is for representational purposes only