Advisors
Dr. Ashok M V
Principal Advisor
Retired as the Chief General Manager of National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) Head Office, Mumbai on 31 July 2017 after 37 years of development banking service having been with the Reserve Bank of India and Canara Bank also earlier. Currently he holds the position of Senior Adviser BAIF Pune after a stint as Adjunct Professor for School of Agribusiness Management, MIT World Peace University, Pune besides as Visiting Professor at College of Post Graduate Studies Shillong with the Central Agricultural University North East, besides being an Adviser to Aditya Birla Group as well as Dr. Reddys Foundation and several NGOs and FPOs promoted by them and a Mentor to about six agri tech startups.
Ms. Saswati Mukgerjee
Advisor
Ms. Saswati Mukherjee, Manager of Marketing & Communication at NIAM Agri-Business Incubator, boasts over 13 years of expertise in technology management, entrepreneurship development, and agri-business incubation. With a strong background in Business Development, New Market Expansion, and Key Account Management, she excels in positioning new products and managing client relationships. Saswati's skills extend to organizing workshops, fostering collaborations between academia and industry, and successful technology commercialization. Her diverse skill set and extensive experience make her a valuable asset in agri-business development.
Dr. Vara Prasad Kolla
Advisor
Ph.D. and Post-Doc
Currently holding the position of Professor & Director at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Chhattisgarh, his academic leadership is evident. His prior role as Professor (Biotechnology) & Dean (Science) at Kalinga University illustrates his adaptability and profound understanding of educational administration. Noteworthy beyond academia, his participation in committees, like the Board of Studies for the School of Life and Allied Sciences, reflects his commitment to educational excellence. Additionally, his involvement as a Board Member of Peoples for Animals signifies his dedication to societal welfare.
Mr. Arun I. Wandre
Advisor
An Agricultural professional having 22 years experience in Agriculture cultivation and management practices. Horticulture, Natural farming, Dairy Farming & Agro Forestry. Pioneer to introduce Bambusa balcoa TC species in Maharashtra year 2009. Commercial bamboo plantations experience last 14 years. Maharashtra’s first commercial bamboo farm established in the year 2012 about 70 acres farm planted, cultivated and harvested for bamboo biomass thermal power plant in Gadchiroli district. Having own bamboo plantation at village Kanur (Bk), Taluka Chandgad, Dist. Kolhapur about 30 bamboo species collection preserved since year 2007.Conducted trails for bamboo biomass field harvesting, sourcing & utilizing as fuel for power plant.