Case | HBS Case Collection | 2004 (Revised from original 2003 version)

FIRA: Confronting the Mexican Agricultural Crisis

by James E. Austin, Michael Chu and Cate Reavis

Abstract

In fall 2003, Mexico's agriculture sector was facing a crisis brought on largely by a surge in cheap U.S. imports resulting from NAFTA and inaccessible and/or expensive terms of credit for Mexican agricultural producers. It was getting harder for Mexican producers to compete, and many were leaving farming for the city. Francisco Mere, director of FIRA, a second-tier development bank, was in the process of developing and implementing a new strategy that would more effectively and efficiently reinvigorate the Mexican agricultural system.

Keywords: Development Economics; Public Sector; Trade; Financial Instruments; Crisis Management; Markets; Strategic Planning; Partners and Partnerships; Competitive Strategy; Agriculture and Agribusiness Industry;

Language: English

Format: Print

20 pages

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Citation:

Austin, James E., Michael Chu, and Cate Reavis. "FIRA: Confronting the Mexican Agricultural Crisis." Harvard Business School Case 304-032, March 2004. (Revised from original December 2003 version.)

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