Land Accelerator South Asia 2022 | Working with Small-Holder Farmers: Opportunities and Challenges
Many land restoration entrepreneurs’ business models rely on effectively engaging with smallholder farmers. It is essential to organize them to participate in the supply chain, and to empower them to participate in land-restoring, sustainable or organic farming and production methods. Other land restoration entrepreneurs may be providing inputs or services that will benefit the farmers in their quest for sustainable income generation.
In this session, the guest speakers will share lessons learnt and experiences on engaging with thousands of farmers and working with different Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). They will also discuss strategies that can work best for Land Restoration Entrepreneurs.
SPEAKERS
Vijay Nadiminti, CEO, AgHub at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU)
Vijay Nadiminti is a distinguished agribusiness professional with 13+ years of industry experience. Since 2009, he has made instrumental contribution to emerging areas of agribusiness such as terminal markets, agribusiness consulting, agricultural value chain assessments, development sector- FPOs assessment as well as business modelling, innovation landscaping, start-up ideation- incubation, acceleration, co-innovation, agritech innovation pilots and equity seed investments, grants and portfolio management and mentoring for startups.
Vijay joined as a COO for a-IDEA in 2015, which is a technology business incubator of National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, a flagship incubator supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), under the aegis of the Startup India Initiative. Under his leadership, a-IDEA won the ‘National Award for Technology Business Incubator for 2017’ awarded by DST, Government of India (GoI). In 2021, he joined AgHub, Agri Innovation Hub of PJTSAU - a flagship incubator supported by NABARD and Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoI as Chief Executive Officer.
Pankaj Gaur, Business Development Lead, Dvara E-Registry
Pankaj Gaur leads the business development efforts at Dvara E-Registry. Pankaj has over 11 years of experience with various agribusinesses and their multiple functions. A graduate in horticulture, Pankaj holds dual MBA degrees, one from IIM-Ahmedabad and another one in Agri Business from IABM Bikaner.
His strengths lie in sales and marketing, business development and operations, new product development and digitisation with demonstrated history of working in agricultural inputs, commodity procurement and warehouse receipt finance. Pankaj has extensive experience working across the agricultural value chain with farmers and other stakeholders. Before joining Dvara E-Registry, he has stints with Shriram Fertilisers and Chemicals, National Collateral Management Services Limited, DS Group and Bluecraft Agro Pvt. Ltd.
Pankaj firmly believes in the transformative power of technology and its extensive utility for farmers and FPOs.
Sudarshan G V, Managing Director, Mivipro Products Pvt Ltd
Sudarshan G V is the Managing Director of MIVIPRO which was formed in the year 2019 and is focused on providing innovative, environmentally friendly, cost effective, sustainable solutions for livestock & Agriculture farmers.
A biochemist by qualification, Sudarshan joined his family business in 2000 and began focusing on research & development, product development and business development. His persistent efforts towards studying various issues in animal feed industry, aqua feed, agriculture sector and its research and development over years have resulted in multiple nature & herbal based innovations. These innovative products are available in the market since 2015 and made huge disruptions due to their excellent quality, competitive prices and innovative retail business models. A flagship product- Innovative Herboliv+ has reached people across India and helped to solve a sensitive issue of agriculture, that is, human - animal conflict.
