Ph.D. in Agriculture from Indian Agricultural Research Institute
BSc (Ag) and MSc (Ag) from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University
Current work:
Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
Expert Director, Sahaja Aharam Producer Company
Earlier selections and work experience
1995: Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
1996: Agricultural Research Service (ARS) till 2004
Contacts: ramoo@csa-india.org, http://www.ramoo.in
Focus of work
• Working on public policy issues impacting on food systems and farmers livelihoods and a framework to ensure income security for farmers
• Working with farmers in AP, Telangana, Maharashtra in establishing ecologically and economically sustainable agriculture models
• Building a Community marketing System ‘Sahaja Aharam’ linking farmer cooperatives directly to consumers.
• Working on building rural entrepreneurship
• Working on Open Source Seed systems
• Working as a resource organisation supporting the programs of state and central governments. Currently working Government of Andhra Pradesh in promoting natural farming, with Society for Elimination of Poverty, Telangana, with Maharashtra State Livelihoods Mission in building the capacities of the staff and organisation involved in the program.
• Working with NABARD in supporting establishment and strengthening of over 120 farmer producer organisations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Initiated ‘Kisan Mitra’ to improve the last mile delivery of all support services and their governance. Currently working in three districts of Telangana and one district in Andhra Pradesh
• Started ‘Grameen Academy’ which runs regular courses on Agroecological approaches, farmer producer organisations and Rural business enterprises, public policy for agriculture
Awards
• 3rd Badshah Khan Memorial Award by ITM University, Gwalior -2019
• Rytunestham Lifetime Achievement Award-2019
• Won best rural innovation award in Maharashtra Rural Innovation Award in 2014 for ‘Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture’
• Won best rural innovation award in Bihar Rural Innovation Award in 2014 for ‘Non Pesticidal Management’
• Won World Bank Development Market Place Award in 2005
Others
• Author of several books and articles on sustainable agriculture and public policy
CSA work featured in 8th Episode of Satyamev Jayate ‘Toxic food’