ABSA to Honor Dr U.S Awasthi, MD of IFFCO & Dr Deepak Shah, CMD of Sulphur Mills with Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr U.S Awasthi, MD of IFFCO, the world’s largest fertilizers cooperative and Dr Deepak Shah, CMD of Sulphur Mills who is known as the 'Sulphur Man of India' will be honoured with "ABSA Lifetime Achievement Awards for the Years 2020 and 2021". 

Both these big corporate leaders and savior of rural farmers have devoted 50 plus years of hard service to the Agriculture Industry and the nation. Both are 70 plus years old and regarded highly in the Indian Agri Industry announced Dr Kalpana Sastry, MD of Ag Hub Foundation, Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University, (PJTSAU) on behalf of the jury of the Ray Consulting which is organizing Agri-Business Summit and Agri Awards.  

The Jury consists of S Siva Kumar, Group Head, Agri and IT Businesses- ITC Chairman Technico Agri Sciences Limited, Vice Chairman ITC Infotech India;  Ram Kaundinya Founder – ThinkAg (platform for Agri and Food innovation), Ex MD Cyanamide, Advanta Seeds; Dr K Chandra Shekara Director General – National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE);  Dr Joanna Kane Potaka, Assistant Director-General ICRISAT

The recipients of Lifetime Achievement Award-Dr U S Awasthi, Managing Director IFFCO, will look into "How Co-operatives can build a strong and sustainable agribusiness model" and Dr Deepak Shah, Chairman Sulphur Mills Ltd., will be sharing his views on "Future Trends - Innovation in Agriculture for building Atmanirbhar Bharat" at the Summit to be held in Hyderabad on September 2, 2021.

A high profile panel discussion "Agriculture was the silver lining in Covid times, how do we convert to golden opportunity” will be scheduled and will be moderated by Siva Kumar Director, ITC. The most renowned professionals from the industry will be participating  as panellists.

A Hyderabad based Agri consulting company, RAY Consulting is organizing 'Agri-Business Summit' on 2nd September at Park Hyatt Hyderabad.  ABSA Life Time Awards for the years 2020 and 2021 will be presented during the summit.  Both the recipients have given their consent to be present in-person at the Agri-Business Summit to receive the industry recognition bestowed on them informed Raj Kumar Agarwal, Founder & Managing Partner of Ray Consulting.

One of the jury members Ram Kaundinya Founder – ThinkAg (platform for Agri and Food innovation), Ex MD Cyanamide, Advanta Seeds, said there wards in every category.  More cine stars are given away awards. But, there are no Awards for Agri-Professionals in Agri-Science and Agri Input Industry.  "Not many Padma Awards are given to the Agri Sector. The Agri industry is undergoing a huge transformation. The recipients are chosen through a most robust and credible process," he said.

"Agri-Business Summit will have a special focus on women in Agri Sector informed Raj Kumar. As 70% of students of Indian Agri Universities are girls right now.  The Agri sector is rapidly emerging as the most attractive now to women too", he added.

S Siva Kumar, Group Head Agri and IT Businesses- ITC Chairman Technico Agri Sciences Limited, Vice Chairman ITC InfoTech India said during the GDP of Pandemic Indian Industry shrank more than 7%, service industry shrank 8%. Considering all, the GDP shrank 7% thanks to the Agri sector which grew by 3% as all Lockdowns exempted Agriculture.  This has provided a Silver-line. Unlocking Agriculture worked well for us.  Governments also reformed agri laws. More investments poured in, more innovations, digital technologies all put together contributed immensely to the growth of the Agri sector despite other sectors shrinking. 

Furthermore, he said the per capita earnings of the farmers are one fourth compared to other professions. While growing more agri products, we've been rapidly consuming our natural resources. As of 8th August, we are overshooting the consumption. We have already consumed natural resources that we are supposed to be consuming by December 31, 2021. Climate change is playing havoc on agriculture which is creating production risk. So the Agri Summit which will be held in September will look into multiple perspectives.  And we will come out with a meaningful action plan for the nation, Shiv kumar shared.

Over 200 Senior Corporate Executives, Industry Captains from over 150 companies will participate in the Summit. The Summit shall host high profile, decision-makers and influencers from the Agri Inputs industry (Agro Chemicals, Nutrition, Bio Ag, Seeds, irrigation, farm mechanization, Precision Ag), researchers, management education, Government, Finance, Universities, Social inclusion etc. Speakers, bankers, policymakers, venture capitalists, start-ups and trendsetters from Agri Industry will all be there.