15th AGRICORP CONFERENCE: “ENRICHING FPOs”

Dr. Prashant Waghmare

Deputy General Manager (Regional Incharge), APEDA,

Agriculture & Management Expert with 23 years of experience in the field of Agriculture export, Value supply chain & Logistics, Export Promotion.

Post Graduate in Agricultural Economics, MBA in Marketing Management, Diploma in Business Management & Diploma in International Business Operations.

Started career with public sector company CONCOR (Container corporation of India) under Ministry of Railways. Worked for 12 years in CONCOR at Inland Container Depot Aurangabad, Nagpur & Bhusawal. During posting worked specially focused on export of Agri products, developing logistics supply chain.

In 2013 joined APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) under Ministry of Commerce & Industries. Worked as Regional Incharge South Region at Bangalore from 2013 to 2016. In 2016 took over the charge of Western Region, Mumbai as Regional Incharge. In APEDA promoting the export of Agri & processed food product globally.

Mr. Rajan Raje

Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Bombay Chamber and CEO, Nichem Solutions

He is a chemistry & management professional with rich industrial experience of 44 years. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked with a UK based company named Willet International as Country Head. His initial industry exposure consisted of diverse areas namely printing inks, coding systems, paints, rust preventives, agriculture, fisheries, water proofing systems etc.

He became an entrepreneur in 1995 by establishing a partnership firm – ADVANCED AGROTECH to work on post-harvest fresh produce preservation solutions. He grew the product portfolio with unique chemical solutions like drinking water purification media, polymer additives, pre- & post-harvest agriculture inputs, home & personal care ingredients & disinfectants. ADVANCED AGROTECH was renamed to NICHEM SOLUTIONS in 2014 & was lead by him along with his partners – Prof VC Malshe & Aniket Malshe.

NICHEM stands for niche chemicals. At NICHEM, he is bullish about creating eco-friendly, non-toxic & sustainable technologies which are beneficial & affordable by the end user or the common people. Today, NICHEM has 100+ products in its basket catering to diverse applications. He looks after the business development, strategy & expansion plans for the organization. Investment in Innovation, Application Development & People Management drives him. He is open to embrace new technologies/softwares to upgrade systems for professional working which is reflected in the culture of NICHEM.

Apart from heading NICHEM, he is on the Board of Directors of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI). He heads the MSME Committee of BCCI & Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICC). He is also a part of the Agri Committee & Diversity & Inclusion (DNY) Committee of BCCI. As an MSME entrepreneur, he has seen the challenges faced by this sector. Thus, he is instrumental in leveraging the right platform through BCCI so that MSMEs can collaborate with credible service providers to help them progress & sustain in the long run.

He does business for its love & satisfaction rather than only earning profits. He encourages his team to be methodical, thoughtful, practical & professional with financial discipline which is a must for the success & sustainance of MSMEs today.
He is a go-getter & problem solver by nature. He nurtures good & long lasting relations with customers & stakeholders. He is conscious about social & environment obligation & believes in giving back. His hobbies include Music, Sports & Travel.

Mr. Prasad More

Product Head Organic And Lead Auditor, Cert ID India Pvt. Ltd.

I hold a Postgraduate degree in Agriculture, specializing in Post Harvest Management of Agricultural and Horticultural crops, with a focus on reducing post-harvest losses through innovative product development. With over a decade of experience in the TIC industry, I currently lead as Product Head at FoodChain ID India, handling Organic, Global GAP, Regenerative Organic, and Sustainable Programs. I am a qualified Lead Auditor for various standards, including BRC, FSSC, ISO 45001, and Organic certifications. My expertise includes auditing, training, process optimization, and organic farming practices, with hands- on experience in farm cultivation and accreditation management of Quality Management Systems.

Mr. Jaysing P. Hulawle

Production Head, Pawna Sanskruti Farmers Producer Company Ltd.

With over 25 years of hands-on experience in the high-tech floriculture industry, I have been at the forefront of advancing polyhouse rose farming in India. Since 1997, I have worked with some of the largest Dutch rosegrowing companies in the country, taking on key roles as Production Manager and Quality Manager, where I led initiatives to optimize yield, improve quality, and implement innovative cultivation practices. Currently, I am proud to serve as the Head of the Production Division at Pavna Sanskruti Farmer Producer Company Ltd., where I lead large-scale operations in floriculture, expanding from 1,000 square meters to 50 acres of polyhouse cultivation. I am committed to empowering farmers through technical guidance, modern agricultural practices, and strategic planning to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Throughout my career, I have specialized in:
• High-tech Dutch rose cultivation
• Production management and quality assurance
• Advanced irrigation and fertigation systems
• Farmer training and mentorship
• Large-scale floriculture project management
My passion lies in driving innovation, solving challenges in the horticulture sector, and contributing to India’s
growing floriculture industry by ensuring the success of farmers and the businesses associated with it.

Mr. Mithilesh Desai

Managing Director, Jackfruitking Agro Producer Company Limited

Widely recognized as the "Jackfruit King of India," we take pride in cultivating and preserving all 86 known varieties of jackfruit globally. Our enterprise operates its own state-of-the-art food processing unit, producing a diverse range of products including vacuum-fried chips, vegan meat, ready-to-eat vegetables, and spray-dried powders. As pioneers in the field, we are the first Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) from India to collaborate with the Reserve Bank of India on a pilot project for carbon credits under the CBDC platform. Additionally, we run a dedicated Jackfruit Research Centre to further innovation and sustainability. Honored by the Government of Maharashtra, we are proud to hold the title of the Youngest Entrepreneur of Maharashtra.

Dr. Rahul Mirchandani

Managing Director, Aries Agro

Dr Rahul Mirchandani has 30+ years of experience as Director of Aries Agro Limited. Awarded as CEO of the Year 2024 and consistently ranked amongst the 30 Most Innovative CEOs in India since 2014, he has pioneered several unique marketing processes and brand management tactics at Aries. These include launching India’s first loyalty programme in agribusiness, India’s first Agribusiness flash sale (earning a Limca Book of Records), customer engagement programmes for farmers, executing the first nationwide single day launch for a specialty fertilizer brand as well as several shock-and-awe brand building programmes to sustain and grow 130 rural brands with zero mass media advertising. Many of these strategies are being documented and taught as case studies in customer relations management at leading Indian business schools. He holds a Doctorate in Management Studies from NMIMS University, Mumbai and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds an MBA from the University of Canberra, Australia. Rahul has delivered sessions on Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Oxford University, UK and has lectured at over 50 B-Schools in India. Rahul actively serves on the Boards of ITM Skills University, the International Zinc Association and CultInno. He has also been elected for a second term as President of the Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA), the apex association representing the interests of the Micronutrient industry in India.

A Past National Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Young Indians (CII-Yi), he is the architect of Yi’s Farmers Net program and has served on the CII Agriculture, Innovation, International Policy and India@75 National Councils. He has been the Chairman for the Yi’s Next Practices platform and has also chaired Yi’s International Relations and Partnerships and is the Founder of the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs- Asia (CAYE-Asia). He is the recipient of the Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Shakti Award 2010 in recognition of outstanding achievements towards Youth Empowerment and Inclusive Growth.

Recognized as one of the world’s foremost achievers in his field, Rahul is listed in the Who’s Who in the World 2013 and has been invited to Receptions at Buckingham Palace, the International Labour Organization, the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings, High Commissioners Banquets, Association of MBAs Global Deans conference, amongst many others. Rahul was a
member of the Global Jury for the UN-Habitat Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards 2016. Rahul is a Fellow of the 4Sight Class of Ananta Aspen’s India Leadership Initiative and member of Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Mr. Anant More

President, Fratelli Fruits Farmer Producer Company

Mr. Anant More, President of Fratelli Fruits Farmer Producer Company, is a visionary grapes farmer dedicated to transforming Nashik’s grape valley. His passion for sustainable agriculture has driven significant advancements in precision irrigation management and practical farming solutions. By empowering farmers and fostering innovation, he has ensured Fratelli Fruits consistently delivers world-class produce, setting new benchmarks in quality and productivity.

Mr. Sachin Nandwana

Director & Co-founder – BigHaat

Mr. Sachin Nandwana is a distinguished graduate of RGPV (Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya) with over 22 years of extensive experience spanning both the private sector and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). With a background rooted in a farming community, he has a profound understanding of agricultural challenges and opportunities. Mr. Nandwana has a deep exposure of over 9 years in the Agri Value Chain, where he has been instrumental in developing innovative solutions for farmers. Notably, he built India& first smart irrigation controller aimed at improving crop yield, showcasing his commitment to leveraging technology for agricultural advancement.

As the co-founder of BigHaat, Mr. Nandwana is at the forefront of transforming the agricultural space in India. He is dedicated to building the country’s leading full-stack business model for farmers, ensuring they have direct access to high- quality agricultural inputs, farm-advisory services, along with market linkage to ensure end-to-end solutions for farming community. His visionary leadership, coupled with structured and targeted planning, is driving BigHaat towards its goal of revolutionizing the agricultural ecosystem, enhancing productivity, and boosting the profitability of farmers across the nation

Mr. Narendra Patil

Vice-President, Soex Flora

Mr. Narendra Patil is the Sr. Vice President of Soex Flora Pvt. Ltd., a leading fresh flower grower and exporting company from India since 1994. Holding a degree of MBA- Finance and 30 years of experience in the floriculture and export industry, Mr. Patil specializes in developing sustainable supply chains and expanding international markets. Mr. Narendra Patil is instrumental in forging strong relationships with global partners, ensuring quality assurance, and driving innovation in the company’s operations. Passionate about promoting eco-friendly practices, Mr. Patil has played a key role in achieving substantial increase in export volume over the last years.

Ms. Chinmayee Deulgaonkar

Managing Director, Cert ID India Pvt. Ltd

Ms. Chinmayee Deulgaonkar has over 24 years of experience in the food industry in certification, auditing, training, and compliance services. She is FSSAI’s National Resource and FOSTAC ambassador. Her international experience of 60+ countries, speaker in 800+ conferences, trainer for regulatory staff of State FDA, FSSAI, Dubai Municipality, 3500+ man-days in food safety audits and trainings makes her versatile. She has represented India in various ISO standard committee working groups. She has received Woman Leadership Award from ASSOCHAM, Mumbai Woman Leader, and Asia Topmost Persons in Food Industry from World Congress. She is Vice president for Association of Food Scientist and Technologist of India’s Mumbai chapter.

Currently she is working as Managing Director for American company FoodChain ID’S India and Middle East operations, a company serving nearly 38000+ agri and food& beverage companies for various compliance, certification, training and testing activities.

Ms. Smita Murty

India Representative for FSSC

• Smita is the India Representative for FSSC
• A microbiologist by education, she has extensive experience in the field of food safety and quality, having worked for over 23 years with Coca-Cola
• She has spent over a decade auditing manufacturing facilities globally for quality and food safety
• She served as the Director of the Eurasia Analytical Service Centre before joining FSSC in 2019
• She also became an entrepreneur in 2018, starting her own café and consulting on food safety, quality, and hygienic design.

Mr. Kapil Sawant

Senior Manager, Farmonaut

Kapil Sawant is a Senior Software Engineer and Senior Manager at Farmonaut, where he is involved in the integration of advanced technologies into sustainable agriculture solutions and product development. An alumnus of BITS Pilani, Kapil has a solid foundation in engineering and over five years of research experience in robotics, having worked in prestigious research institutes in France and Italy. His expertise spans software development and robotics, driving Farmonaut’s mission to revolutionize precision farming and expand its reach into global markets.

Mr. Rajesh Sinha

Angel Investor, Consultant

A pioneer, thought and practice leader in B2B electronic spot markets and e-platforms in India, Mr. Sinha has proven expertise in delivering public services at scale through digital innovations & institutional mechanisms. He has led transformational initiatives from concept to scale in Indian commodity markets. He has worked closely across the three sectors of Government, Corporate and Not for profits.

Mr. Sinha has held leadership positions in companies set up leading exchanges like BSE India, NCDEX & MCX and is on the board of Sahyadri Farms Post Harvest Care Limited.

Dr. Sudhir Kumar Goel

I.A.S. Former Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture and Marketing), Government of Maharashtra & Mentor, Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Bombay Chamber

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. Saleem Kamaal

Head, Bharat Enterprises, Axis Bank

He is a distinguished BFSI professional with over 24 years of experience in Consumer, Corporate, and Commercial Banking, particularly in Food & Agri, MSME segment including Life & General insurance domain holding senior management position in reputed MNCs/Banks. He has worked with Financial institutions like HDFC Life, Citi India, Barclays, American Express where he led businesses and scripted growth with profitability.

Mr. Mrugank Paranjape

Co-Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing Committee, Bombay Chamber and Consultant & Independent Director

Mrugank Paranjape, is the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of NCDEX e Markets Limited, the Non Executive Independent Director in the Central Board of the State Bank of India, the Chair of the Board of the Mumbai School of Economics & public Policy and a Trustee on the Board of Sewa International.

In May 2019, he completed his 3 year term as the MD & CEO of the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) – where he was instrumental in the resurgence of MCX following its troubled legacy and re-established the brand as well the leadership position of the Exchange.

From 2005 – 2016 he worked with the Deutsche Bank Group – where he held several leadership positions in India and Singapore in Deutsche Banks’s Global Transaction Banking division. In 2012, he was awarded the “Custodian Banker of the Year” by the Asian Investor Magazine.

Mrugank has earlier worked in various leadership and managerial roles in Asset Management, Stock Broking & Retail Banking. He is an alumnus of IIT Mumbai (B Tech, Electrical Engineering) and IIM Ahmedabad (PGDM with Specialization in Information Systems).

Ms. Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil,

Assistant Commissioner of Food Food and Drug’s Administration

Received Certificate of appreciation for Largest Seizure of misbranded and unsafe food articles in India
from Commissioner of Food Safety, Maharashtra State
National level faculty for FSSAI regulatory authorities for Labelling, Display and Advertising and Claims
Regulations.
Associated with ITCFSAN as trainer.
M.Sc. Microbiology
M.M.S. in Human Resource Management
Currently perceiving PhD in Food Science from ICT, Mumbai.

Saurabh Khanna

MD & CEO, NeRL

Mr. Saurabh Khanna holds an MBA degree from the Institute of Management Studies, DAVV, Indore. He brings with him 25 years of rich experience in Business Development, P&L Management and Team Management in the BFSI sector. He has worked with L&T Finance as a Business Head for Agriculture & Allied business where he was responsible for creating a roadmap for the growth of the responsible market, increasing share and leading growth. Before L & T finance, he was working with Samunnati Financial Intermediation & Services Pvt. Ltd as a Business Head. He was managing more than 2000 Agri. enterprises clients and 3000 FPOs in various stages of development.

His earlier experience includes Executive Director & Business Head-Retail, Standard Chartered Investments & Loan Ltd. and Director –Financial Inclusion (PSL) with Standard Chartered Bank: Head –FIG-West, ICICI Bank; Cluster Head & VP-Business Banking, HSBC.

Mr. Matteo Migliorini

MTS SANDEI Export manager

Mr. Matteo Migliorini, MTS SANDEI Export manager, 8 years’ experience in Agricultural business, 3 in the tomato harvesters’ one. With a background in Law and Economics, his main task in the company is to develop foreign markets, both through direct sales and collaboration with machinery dealers. In the recent past, he had been working in the milking equipment sector, focusing on South European markets, mostly Italy and Spain. Moving then into the tomato harvesters’ world, allowed him to get a better global vision of the agricultural business, by taking care of many different areas of the world: Asia, Europe, Middle- East and South America.

Mr. Ghazi Islam, GM, IDBI Bank

GM, IDBI Bank

With a Graduation in Agriculture Science and an MBA, along with certification as an Associate
of the Indian Institute of Bankers, he brings over 25 years of extensive experience in
commercial banking. He began his career as an Agriculture Extension Officer with Canara
Bank, specializing in agriculture and priority sector credit. Since joining IDBI Bank in 2006, he
has played very active role in its transformational journey from a Development Financial
Institution to a universal commercial bank. He has worked in leadership positions at various
Regional and Zonal offices of this Bank and currently posted as General Manager at the
Corporate Office in Mumbai to oversee the Bank's Agriculture Finance division, driving
innovative financial solutions for this sector.

Mr Pradeep Parate

GM, NABARD, Pune

My skills in appraisal and scrutiny of agriculture and MEME related projects, implement innovative models for agriculture and rural development, promote and nurture Rural Financial Institutions, develop and nurture SHGs, JLGs and FPOs for overall development and agriculture and rural development.

Mr. Yogendra Shelkey

DGM at Agri Business Unit of State Bank of India,

Corporate Centre Mumbai.

He is science graduate and MBA. He is carrier Banker with rich experience of more than 26 years in wide gamut of Banking functions entailing Retail Credit, Sales, Branch Operations, HR, Compliance, Collections and Customer relationship. He is playing a pivotal role in steering the Agri business growth of the Bank. He oversees product design and business development in Agri Business Unit of SBI. Keen strategist with proficiency in devising and implementing robust product, policies, system and controls thereby achieving business and operational excellence.

Dr. Chun Mei Chang, COO, Envirocare Labs

COO, Envirocare Labs

A biochemist with PhD in Molecular Biology, is an internally acclaimed laboratory professional with expertise in laboratory design, laboratory operations & laboratory quality management systems.

Dr. Chang has a flair for regulatory compliances, investigating and resolving process issues, increasing efficiency and implementing stringent QA – QC to bring in Operational Excellence.

LinkedIn Profile
Quality Assurance and Laboratory Operations professional EXPERIENCED in reducing COST, increasing EFFICIENCY and maintaining QUALITY CONTROL. Flair for investigating and resolving process issues, designing laboratory expansions and training laboratory staff.

For Sponsorship Contact :

Mr. Karl Mistry
Email : Karl.Mistry@bombaychamber.com
Tel : (D) + 91 22 6120 0215
Mob : +91 9820136381