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Mr. G. V. Bhaskar Rao

Chairman & Managing Director

Dr. G. Pawan

Whole-Time Director

Mrs. G. Vanaja Devi

Whole-Time Director

Mr. C. Vamsheedhar

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.

Mr. C. Mithun Chand

Whole Time Director

Mrs. M. Chaya Ratan, IAS (Rtd.)

Independent Director

Prof. R.R. Hanchinal

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.

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.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mittal

Independent Director

Mr. Krishna Mohan Prasad 

Independent Director 

Mr. Narsing Rao Singayapally

Independent Director

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mittal is Former Vice Chancellor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and Rajendra Agricultural University (now Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University), Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar. He established new academic institutions (3 colleges and 12 KVKs), initiated several (41) new programmes and provided leadership for the expansion, development and management of research, education and extension in the Universities and their area jurisdiction.

 

In between, he was OSD (International Relations), ICAR, New Delhi where he established BRICS Agricultural Research Platform at New Delhi; developed new MoUs/MoAs/Work Plans and provided technical input in programmes  including BRICS, CGIAR, ASEAN, India-Africa Forum Summit, SAARC, BIMSTEC, FAO, IFAD, G-20 and others. He represented ICAR in CGIAR System Council Meeting at Amsterdam, Netherlands, and lead an Expert Team to Mozambique for identification of research areas for mutual cooperation and the Indian Delegation in the 2nd Meeting of the ASEAN-India Working Group on Agriculture & Forestry at Palembang, Indonesia. He visited 10 other countries as Member of the Indian delegations and for study visit and conference participation.

 

Prior to that, Dr. Mittal was Assistant Director General (Education Quality Assurance & Reforms), ICAR, New Delhi where he worked as ICAR Nodal Officer of Accreditation Board, Indo-US Agricultural Knowledge Initiative, Modernization of AU Farms, ICAR International Fellowships, India-Africa Fellowships, India- Afghanistan Fellowships, Revision of ICAR Model Act and Revision of PG Course Curricula and syllabi, and made significant policy level contribution in enhancement of quality of national agricultural education.

 

Dr. Mittal has also worked as Danida Visiting Scientist in Denmark and NSERC Visiting Fellow in Canada. He has worked on identification, development and management of diseases of pulse and oilseeds crops and the development of their four new improved varieties for the NW hills. He did pioneering work on seed pathology of 15 forest tree species (orthodox and recalcitrant seeds) studying fungal problems during collection, storage, germination and testing and their management.

 

Dr. Mittal has been the President of the Indian Association of Agricultural Universities, New Delhi;  President of the IMS, Kolkata and ISMPP, Udaipur; Fellow of six scientific societies (IPS, ISMPP, IMS, ISST, ISNS, ISEPSA); Member of the ISTA Forest Tree Seed and Shrub Committee, ISTA Tree Seed Pathology Working Group, Switzerland, and American Phytopathological Society, USA; recipient of several awards and recognitions, and acted as Chairman/Member/Member Secretary of several academic and administrative committees of ICAR, ICAR institutes, agricultural universities and others.

Mr. Krishna Mohan Prasad is a graduate in Economics and Law and holds a postgraduate degree in Education. An IRS officer from the 1984 batch, he has extensive experience across diverse areas, including assessment, search and seizure operations, tax policy, tax administration, representation before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, intelligence and criminal investigation, as well as legal research. His career has spanned key positions within the Income Tax Department and the Ministry of Finance, with postings in Delhi, Mumbai, Bihar, Jharkhand, and the North Eastern regions of India. He retired as a Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and served as Ex-Officio Special Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance, New Delhi.

With an overall tenure of 36 years in the IRS, Mr. Prasad has held posts equivalent to or higher than the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India for 18 years, amassing a wealth of expertise in law, finance, and administration.

His educational achievements include an LL.B., B.A. (Economics Honors), M.A. (Education), and professional training at prestigious institutions such as the National Academy of Direct Taxes, an Advanced Management Program for IRS officers at IIM Bangalore, and an Advanced Mid-Career Program on Taxation Policy at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Policy, Syracuse University, USA. He also pursued M.A. Economics (Previous) at the Delhi School of Economics and M.A. Sociology (one semester) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

A qualified advocate, Mr. Prasad is a member of the Bar Council of Delhi and the Delhi High Court Bar Association.

He has published articles in The Economic Times, The Financial Express, and the Journal of Indian Institute of Public Administration. He has also contributed significantly to the preparation of reports for various committees set up by CBDT and to publications by the Income Tax Department. As the Chief Editor of CBDT’s e-journal Taxalogue, he reviewed over a hundred seminal articles, authored six articles, and penned seven editorials on various legal and policy issues.

Mr. Prasad is a sought-after keynote speaker, delivering lectures on topics such as faceless tax assessment, economics, taxation, spiritual well-being, yoga, and self-management. His speaking engagements have been hosted by esteemed institutions like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) Delhi, St. Xavier’s College Ranchi, Netarhat Residential School, the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) Nagpur, and Direct Tax Regional Training Institutes in Hazaribagh and Delhi.

His areas of specialization include tax policy, economic policy, direct tax laws, finance, and administration. Outside his professional sphere, Mr. Prasad enjoys yoga, reading, traveling, cricket, movies, and gardening.

He is also a member of prestigious clubs, including the India International Centre, Delhi, the Noida International Golf Course Club, the Stellar Gymkhana Club in Greater Noida, and the Malabar Hill Club, Mumbai.

Mr. Narsing Rao is a retired civil servant with about 40 years of experience at grassroots, district and state level in formulation, execution, and monitoring and evaluation of Social and Economic Development projects.

 

He has extensive international experience in South and South East Asia. He worked as Portfolio Manager, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Rome Italy responsible for Country Strategies and Projects formulation. As Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP/UNOPS Myanmar and as Senior Portfolio Manager UNOPS/IFAD, advising the governments of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal and Project Implementing Agencies.

 

He has vast experience in corporate management as Chairman and Managing Director, Singareni Collieries and Chairman cum Managing Director of Coal India Limited, the world’s largest coal producer, both of these companies are critical players in India’s energy security.

 

He has worked as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Telangana with varied responsibilities like advising the CM on governance and development management issues, coordinating with members of the Council of Ministers and Senior Officers as Chief of Staff.

 

He holds two masters degrees, M.Sc. (Chemistry) and M.A. (Economics) and a PG Diploma in Forestry from Forest Research Institute and Colleges, Dehradun.