Webinar Link

Meeting No: 2511 519 2288
Password: farmer

Certificate of Participants

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Abstract

The global agricultural sector stands at a critical juncture, facing multifaceted challenges that demand immediate attention and reforms. The discussion will revolve around the need for a comprehensive reform agenda, focusing on three pivotal aspects land, inputs, and technology.

About the Speakers

Dr. Ashok Vishandass

Ashok Vishandass, Professor (Applied Economics) (IIPA) has interest in Sustainable Agriculture, Risk Management, International Trade & Commerce. As ex-Chairman (CACP) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at the level of the Secretary to the Govt. of India, he has rich experience of formulation of Agriculture Price and Non-Price Policies, nuances of fixing MSP of various agriculture commodities. Before joining IIPA, he had also served FAO of United Nations Organisation (UNO) as the Chief Technical Adviser. In his stint with the UNO, he provided high-level technical and economic advice relating to Food Security, SDGs, agricultural Marketing and brought out eight Reports.

Prof. Ashok holds Ph.D. (Agri. Economics), M.A. (Economics) (University of Manchester), M.B.A. (Financial Management), PG Diploma in Population and Development (JNU), M. Stat. (Master of Statistics) (Gold Medalist).

Prof. Parmod Kumar

Parmod Kumar is the Director of Giri Institute of Development Studies. Previously he worked as Professor, Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, India. Before joining ISEC he worked at the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi, and the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi. He was Fellow under the International Visitors Leadership Program sponsored by the US government. He has been visiting Scholar to Glasgow University, OECD-FAO Paris, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, China. He was managing editor of the Journal for Social and Economic Development (JSED) and was on the editorial board of Agricultural Situation in India and presently he is an executive member of Indian Journal of Agricultural Marketing; and Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Member Editorial Board of Indian Journal on Social Justice. He was empanelled as Visiting Professor in Economics for deputation to ICCR Chair Abroad by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi. He has been member of various committees of the Union and State governments. Currently, he is Chairing Working Group on crop husbandry, agricultural inputs, demand & supply projections constituted by the NITI Aayog.

He has authored/co-authored more than twelve research volumes. His latest book titled, ‘Contract Farming and Land Tenancy in India: Prospects and Challenges’ published by Sage. He has published around 70 research articles in refereed national and international journals. He has published articles in high impact journals. He was conferred the IDRC India Social Science Research Award for the work on public distribution system. He is currently guiding 6 PhD Research Scholars, 3 shcolars have already been awarded doctorate degree and has been on Doctoral Committee of a numerous PhD Research Scholars, post doctorates and interns. His major areas of research includes; Agricultural Economics; Environment Economics; Rural Development and Development Economics.

He obtained post-doctorate as Sir Ratan Tata Fellow and doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Dr. Prem Vashishtha

Dr. Prem S. Vashishtha superannuated as Director, Agricultural Economics Research Centre, University of Delhi (Jan 2006). Prior to April 1995, he was Director, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). After his retirement from University of Delhi, he was a Visiting Professor at Institute for Human Development (IHD) and Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), New Delhi. Subsequently, he worked as Professor and founding Dean, School of Business Studies, Sharda University (2009-11), and Professor and founding Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater NOIDA (2012-14). His other positions include Senior Consultant, NCAER (2015-2017), and Professor Emeritus at School of Business Studies, Sharda University, Greater Noida (August 2018-May 2023). He holds an MA degree (Economics) from the University of Allahabad and Ph.D. degree in Economics from Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi.

Dr. Vashishtha has taught at Delhi University, Boston University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA. He has been a Visiting Fellow at Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, U.K, and also at Economics Department, University of Pennsylvania, USA (1995,1996). His teaching and research interests include agricultural/rural economics, international business, applied econometrics, public finance, public policy and governance (especially focusing on the social sector-poverty, food security, education and health policy, encompassing the overall social security & reaching out the under- served sections of society).

Dr. Vashishtha has published in national and international journals. He has published two books: (i) ‘Commonalities, Complementarities and Cooperation-- Asia-Pacific Region’ (Editor), Association of Development Research and Training Institutes of Asia and Pacific Region (ADIPA),1989; and (ii) ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act-A Catalyst for Rural Transformation’, (Co-authored with Sonalde Desai and Omkar Joshi), 2015, NCAER.

Dr. Vashishtha has served on various committees of Government of India and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He has consulted with several international organizations such as International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Labour Organization (ILO), World Bank, and UNDP. He has served as a member of the Common Review Mission (CRM) of Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), 2016, and also CRM of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India, 2017. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Economic Association (UPUEA) honored Dr. Vashishtha with KAUTALYA AWARD in 2021. He was one of the main organizers of UPUEA conference (April 22-23, 2022) at the School of Business studies, Sharda University, Greater NOIDA.