Association: Chief Programme Executive at BAIF Development Research Foundation, a reputed Indian NGO engaged in Rural Development since 57 years with an outreach of 4 million rural poor families from 100,000 villages of 15 states.  

Experience: 36 + years with BAIF Development Research Foundation

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture (1987) from College of Agriculture, Kolhapur, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra;  Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Development (2001) from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. 

Significant Contributions:

Contributed to the growth of BAIF Programmes through improved rural livelihoods, agricultural productivity and field research and innovations. Led the Agrobiodiversity Programme with focus on mapping of traditional landraces, documentation of knowledge and best practices, establishment of in-situ landraces, community-led seed banks and production of worthy land races for large scale promotion and conservation.

As Chief Programme Executive, has driven impactful projects in livelihoods, natural resources management and community development and welfare. Various innovative technologies developed for Rural Livelihoods, Tribal Development, Natural Resources Management and Corporate Social Responsibility have benefitted 393,000 tribal and marginal families of Maharashtra.

Mentor for students from IIT Bombay and IIM Ahmedabad in rural immersion programmes. Delivered a lecture on “Livelihood interventions for rural upliftment” to the students and faculty of MIT, Cambridge, USA in 2016.

Research papers: 

15 Scientific Papers published in prestigious national and international journals with focus on sustainable agriculture, rural development and tribal sustainability,  fertilizer management, water resource conservation and food sovereignty. Technical Papers on agronomic performance, malnutrition, underutilized fruit trees and bamboo nurseries published in LEISA India – a development journal on sustainable agriculture and also presented at various national and international conferences.