Chairman & Managing Director
Vice-Chairman – Non-Executive
Whole-Time Director
Mr. G.V. Bhaskar Rao is the Chairman & MD at Kaveri Seeds . Mr. Rao founded Kaveri seeds in 1976 and under his leadership, Kaveri Seeds has become a pioneer and trendsetter in India’s seed industry.
Mr. Rao is a technocrat with a sharp business acumen. He is a graduate in Agriculture from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University . Passion for agriculture was his tryst with destiny to develop interest in agri-seed business.
His foresight to uplift farming communities by developing promising high-yielding varieties of hybrid seeds has positively influenced millions of farmers and generated employment opportunities. Under his stewardship the company has developed about 150 high quality hybrids and varieties across field crops and vegetables there by contributing to livelihood of farmers as well as food security of the country.
Mr. Rao is actively involved in giving back to the community through various development initiatives that the company undertakes as a Responsible Social Corporate.
Dr Pawan is the Vice Chairman – Non Executive at Kaveri seeds. He has served as a Director for more than a decade and was appointed Vice-Chairman (Non-Executive) of the Company in 2016-17.
Dr. Pawan has been instrumental in formulating strategic and long-term business plans for sustainable value creation of the Company and stakeholders. His consistent focus on strategic issues and long-term business plans and operations has helped elevate Kaveri Seeds to a new orbit of competitiveness.
Dr. Pawan is an MBBS from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Karnataka, and holds Doctor of Medicine degree from Illinois State University, USA
Mrs. Vanaja Devi is the Founder Director of Kaveri Seeds and has been associated with the Company since its incorporation. With her instinct to bring innovative ideas to the table, she is the ideal foil and support to the CMD in managing the Company.
Mrs. Vanaja Devi is the guiding force for the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the areas of rural infrastructure development and children education. These initiatives broadly include improvement of existing irrigation facilities in the rural areas, so as to improve the area under irrigation to reap good harvest, thereby improve farm yields.
Under her able management number of social welfare activities have been under taken in rural areas to improve the agriculture, education and human health etc.
Mr. Vamsheedhar is the Whole Time Director at Kaveri seeds and has been associated with the company for more than a decade. He oversees the organisation’s overall marketing activities, segment-wise product development and pan-India promotional activities.
Mr. Vamsheedhar has been instrumental in bringing about numerous reforms and creating a strong brand image of Kaveri Seeds’ products in the market. He has a rich experience in marketing and his vision and skills have been instrumental in the exceptional growth in the Company’s sales and marketing.
Whole Time Director
Independent Director
Mr. Mithun Chand is the Whole Time Director at Kaveri seeds and has been associated with the company for about a decade. He oversees and monitors the operational aspects of administration, finance and accounts.
Mr. Chand has a wealth of experience in marketing and finance and advises the management about financial issues of the Company. While his innovation drives new business platforms, he has contributed significantly in sales and marketing of Kaveri Microteck and other subsidiaries of the Company.
Dr. Reddy is the former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University,and has a a vast experience in scientific research. He has won several awards, including the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award for lifetime contribution towards the development of science and technology, especially in the field of agricultural research.
Dr. Reddy’s valuable guidance and suggestions are immensely useful in developing frontier research capabilities to carve the hybrids according to farmers’ expectations and consumers’ preferences. He has a doctorate degree in Agriculture.
Mr. Purushotham has 36 years of experience in the banking and finance sector. He has held several prominent positions in the sector, including General Manager of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). He is actively involved in Company meetings, advising the management on the subjects of finance, accounting and taxation, among others. He is a graduate in Science (Agriculture).
Dr. IIyas retired as a Director of National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad. With a vast experience in agriculture and research activities as well as other international assignments, he was reemployed as Project Director (Distance Education) of National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad. He has held several eminent professional positions including the Vice-Chancellor of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh.
Dr. Ilyas has received several gold medals and awards including Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers Award, Institution of Engineers (I) (in 1997 and 2002) and Fellowship and Commendation Medal for Outstanding Contribution by the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE). He holds a master’s degree in Science (Agricultural Engineering) from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, and a doctorate degree in the same subject from the University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
Mrs. Ratan is a retired IAS officer (1977 batch). She was an able administrator, implementing several reforms to bring about change in various departments such as health, college and school education, family welfare and tribal welfare, among others. She worked to uplift poor and marginal sections (including the differently abled members) of society, facilitating their access to basic services. Her efforts helped establish 45 Public Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in tribal areas. She holds a master’s degree in Eco-Social Policy and Planning from London School of Economics, England.
Prof. R.R. Hanchinal obtained his Ph.D in Agriculture, Genetics and Plant Breeding. He is also Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Academy of Biological Sciences and Honorary fellow/fellow of many professional societies including Bioversity International- Rome.
Prof. R.R. Hanchinal, the former Chairperson of Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Authority (Secretary Rank) Government of India, also served as Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and other key posts namely Director of Extension, Director of Research, Special officer Seeds etc., He was advisor to Indonesia Government for the development of Food Crop Research (2003-2005) and Senior Seed Production Specialist for the USAID West Africa Seed Alliance-ICRISAT (2008) and established commercial seed industry in five countries viz., Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana and also trained the staff and students in plant breeding/seed production technology.
As Chairperson, PPVFRA promoted conservation, protection of Biodiversity, farmers’ varieties and establishment of community seed banks/clonal banks. The model “Take it to the Farmer-Farmers’ Rights through awareness” and “Take it to the Plant Breeder-Breeder & Researchers’ Rights through awareness” helped to protect Biodiversity and promote Patent/IPR.
As Vice Chancellor, established a new Agricultural College at Hanumanamatti, B.Tech (Food Science & Technology) degree programme at Dharwad and for the first time established six Agricultural Diploma Colleges in different places in Karnataka
As a plant breeder, Prof. Hanchinal has made significant contribution both in basic and applied research. He has developed and released 23 varieties in different corps. Developed unique method for the first time by selecting and adopting potential villages for seed production with “Modified Seed Village Concept” which is popularly known as “DHARWAD MODEL”. This model became role model in India, also in many African countries and Nepal.
For his outstanding work, he was awarded with as many as 24 national /international Awards. Also, a grantee for the Obama-Singh 21st Century knowledge initiative (2012). Recently he was awarded with The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative Gene Stewardship Award by the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA (2018), M.S.Swaminathan Award 2015-16 by RICAREA, Hyderabad and a certificate of appreciation from World Bank group.
Prof. Hanchinal also served as Senior National Expert of Indo-German Seed Project, consultant to Carnell University-Sathguru, for implementing Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported project at Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Nepal, Agricultural University, Malawi, Africa and Seed Systems Group (SSG) supported project in 10 African countries in Seed Systems Development. He is a member of Farmers’ Welfare Commission, Government of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Member of Krishi Neeti of Karnataka State, Board Member, Sher E Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, Independent Director of Mahindra HZPC Pvt. Ltd., and Chairman and member of many committees of Government of India and ICAR. 418 publications are at his credit.
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UPL’s acquisition of Arysta LifeScience has received regulatory approval worldwide and together we are moving fast to creating a new leader in global agriculture.
Our websites will continue to be the best place to get news updates over the next months as we fully integrate our combined businesses.
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