Advisory Board
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Goel – Member of Advisory Board
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Goel Former Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Marketing Government of Maharashtra Master’s in Development Studies, University of Bath, UK; PhD in Physics, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Formerly, Researcher in Nuclear Physics, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. 1982, joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS); has occupied various senior positions in the state of Maharashtra, mostly linked to the field of Agriculture & Cooperation, including 7 years as Agriculture Commissioner; 6 years as Commissioner and Secretary, Cooperatives; Director-General, special project tackling suicide among farmers, Vidarbha; Principal Secretary and then Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture, responsible for attracting investment in the State of Maharashtra in the field of integrated value chains. Extensive experience working on various projects funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and International Fund for Agriculture Development. Interests: establishing a public-private partnership framework for integrated value chains. Presently working as a freelance consultant in establishing Agri-value chains since retiring from service in June 2015.
Mr. Dasharath Tambhale – Member of Advisory Board
Passionate to explore new and innovative ideas in development and extension. Exploring opportunities to work in development and management of research and extension. Wide experiences for handling various agricultural department of government since 1991. 01/2022 to 05/2024: DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE -ATMA, Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra and, Head, Project Implementation Unit- Agriculture – State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (SMART), DoA, GoM State head of ATMA wing of Department of Agriculture, responsible for monitoring different centrally and state sponsored schemes and projects including schemes for support to states for extension reforms, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Agri Infrastructure Fund(AIF), Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs, etc. and also the World Bank assisted SMART project. 09/2018 to 01/2022 – Kolhapur: JOINT DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE – Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra ADDITIONAL PROJECT DIRECTOR (ADDITIONAL CHARGE) – State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (SMART) Preparation of World Bank assisted State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) project. Project aims to develop inclusive and competitive value chains of agriculture commodities focused on small holder farmers and Agri entrepreneurs in the state. The total estimated cost of project is 300 mil USD of which 70% is borne by International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) (World Bank). 07/2015-07/2018 – Jalna DISTRICT SUPERINTENDING AGRICULTURE OFFICER, JALNA – Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra Received Prime Ministers’ award for excellence in public administration for best performance in implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojan (PMFBY) in 2017. 11/2013-07/2015 – Pune GENERAL MANAGER – Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB)