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| Dr. MJ Khan |
Life Mission: To improve the socio-economic milieu of millions of rural poor and peasants by taking up various economic initiatives at grass root and their cause at national levels.
Work Approach: Creating awareness and opinions on major issues concerning the farm sector, connecting stake-holders for developing understanding on major issues and creating economic opportunities for farmers and rural youths through implementing agricultural projects and entrepreneurship development programs. Taking up rural and agricultural studies and organising seminars, conferences, farmers workshops etc, providing information and actively participating in public and media programs on farmers issues. Helping agriculture graduates and post-graduates in getting employment in the agri industry and creating self-employment opportunities for them at village level. Influencing policy decisions and promoting investments in agriculture sector for accelerated growth of rural economy and improvement in socio-economic milieu of rural population and instilling in them self confidence, values and sense of pride for agriculture.
Current Roles:
Chief Editor – Agriculture Today, Krishi Today and Agri News
Information is the key to decision making and serves as vital input in knowledge led development. Agriculture sector lacked a dedicated media, till Dr. MJ Khan launched Agriculture Today in 1998. Agriculture Today is now synonymous with agriculture media. Agriculture Today has since then been launched in Hindi and Telugu languages, besides a daily internet based news version. The magazine also organizes a number of national level meets of stake-holders, including its flagship program; Agriculture Leadership Summit.
President – Institute of Agribusiness Management, Noida
Realizing the need for enhancing employability of agriculture graduates and connecting them with Indian agribusiness industry, Dr. MJ Khan started IABM in 2007, as India’s 1st private sector agribusiness institute. The institute not only offers 100% job linked agribusiness course but also entrepreneurship programs and training to farmers and rural youths.
President - Center for Agriculture and Rural Development
The need for a national level organization, which works as information bank, think tank, watchdog and development catalyst, was felt for a long time. Dr. MJ Khan started CARD to address to the policy, technical and developmental needs of agrarian society. CARD is credited for having pioneered many innovative concepts in agriculture development, esp PPP in agriculture extension and UP based Bhagidari Agribusiness development network.
President – International Agriculture Consulting Group
Food security is the global concern today and it requires collective efforts to address the same. Dr. MJ Khan launched IACG to provide Indian expertise to the developing and under-developed countries for supporting them achieve their food security. The initiative shall also help India in forging better relations with a large number of countries through partnerships in food and agriculture, which in turn shall help India’s global cause.
President – Bhagidari Agribusiness Centres Project
Bhagidari Project in UP, set up by CARD under the leadership of Dr. MJ Khan, is the network of over 100 agribusiness centres, owned and operated by agriculture graduates, under GOI scheme of Agriclinic and Agribusiness Centres (ACAB). Bhagidari is a very unique concept, where a network has been created to serve the farmers and rural masses through inputs, services, advise and linkages.
Major achievements in Agriculture Sector
1. Organised large number of programs all over India for farmers and stake-holders in farm sector
2. Organised training programs for rural men and women in different parts of India, esp in NER and in various districts of UP
3. Achieved policy level changes and presented many innovative policy concepts to GOI on farm issues for the benefits of millions of rural folks
4. Created over 10,000 jobs in rural sector through various projects and industry linkages
Conducted studies on:
a. Trends in farmers returns from the cotton crop
b. Impact of subsidies reduction on Indian agriculture
c. Present situation and emerging trends in Indian agriculture
d. Farmers credit needs and preparing a suitable product mix for them
e. Impact of WTO and globalisation on Indian agriculture
f. Employment opportunities through Food Processing in India
g. Poultry Park project for rural enterpreneurship for North eastern region
h. Project for supplementing farm incomes through Fisheries Hub project
i. Establishement of the network of Agribusiness Centres across NER for agri marketing and farm growth
j. Feasibility study for application of biotechnology in agriculture for value addition and productivity improvement
k. Organic agriculture in India – potential and opportunities in global markets
l. Israel agriculture and opportunities for cooperation in farming
Programs organized:
Successfully organised first National Conference on Agriculture Policies on 23rd April, 1999 in New Delhi. This was participated by two union ministers, 18 MPs, VCs, top Government officials and other intellectuals in agriculture
Organised mega event, Agriculture Summit - 2000 on 17th March, 2000 in New Delhi. This was participated by five union ministers, 15 MPs, VCs and other intellectuals in agriculture.
Convened a Farmers Convention, in Sept, 2000, which was attended by union minister, Sh. Suresh Prabhu and large number of progressive farmers from six north Indian states.
Organised AgriExpo 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 at Lucknow. These were the largest agricultural events ever organised in Uttar Pradesh. Over 5 lac farmers participated in these events.
Organised National farmers workshop on fertiliser subsidies in July, 2001 in New Delhi. This was participated by Union Ministers Sh. SS Dhindsa, Sh. SB Mookherjee and by 300 farmers and farmers organisations.
Organised National Round Table on Farmers Issues and Agriculture Policies on 12th Dec, 02 in New Delhi. This was participated by Agriculture ministers, 12 MPs, VCs, top Government officials and other intellectuals in agriculture.
Organised Farmers workshop at Lakhimpur in UP on 19th May, 01, participated by over 1,000 most progressive farmers and VIPs.
Organised 45 Civil Services Select Agriculture Graduates felicitation program in Sept, 02 in New Delhi.
Organised Farmers workshop at Rajapur in Maharashtra on 23rd Dec, 01. Sh. Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister was Chief Guest.
Organised visit of Union Minister, Sh. SS Dhindsa to my ancestral village, Lakhimpur in UP to inaugurate Girls High School and to Palia in Lakhimpur and organized a large gathering of Tarai Sikh farmers meet.
Organised North East Agriculture and Rural Industries Show and Development Meet 2003 to project agribusiness opportunities in North East, promote investment and create employment in rural sector. This was participated by Governor of Assam, Ministers, VIPs and over 10,000 farmers from the region.
Organised Farmers workshops and rural exhibitions in 10 districts of Western UP from 15 Feb – 6 March, 03. Over 1.0 lac farmers from Western UP participated in these programs.
Organised first National Summit on Rural Media on 23rd Aug, 03 in New Delhi in partnership with Zee News and ASSOCHAM. This was participated by 3 ministers, six MPs and over two hundred media persons, officials and rural functionaries.
Organised Farmers workshops and rural exhibitions in 51 districts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, covering 35,000 villages and over 10 lac farmers.
Organised discussion on Andhra Pradesh farmers Issues and Agriculture Policies of on 8th Aug, 03 in New Delhi. This was participated by Agriculture Ministers and top officials of of AP, national experts, heads of developmental institutions, trade and agricultural councilors from major countries and CEOs of agribusiness companies.
Organised North East Agriculture and Rural Industries Show and Development Meet 2004 to project agribusiness opportunities in North East, promote investment and create employment in rural sector. This was participated by CM - Assam, Central and State Ministers, VIPs and over 10,000 farmers.
Organised International Conference on Organic Food, “Nature 2004” from 14 – 17 Feb, 04 at ICAR regional HQ, Barapani, Shillong. This was inaugurated by the CM and Governor had presided over the event. About 600 delegates from India and abroad participated in the event.
Organised first Public – Private sector partnership meet on Agriculture Extension on 28th May, 04 on behalf of the Union Ministry of Agriculture. This had participation of all the corporate majors. The meet was presided over by the Secretary – Agriculture, Mrs. Rada Singh.
Organised HortiExpo and International Horticulture Congress jointly with the Horticulture Society and the Ministry of Agriculture from 6 – 9 Nov, 05 at Pusa, in New Delhi. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Balram Jakhar, Hon’ble Governor, MP.
Organised National Banana Festival, jointly with ISAP and Ministry of Agriculture from 4 – 6 Aug, 05 in New Delhi. The meet was inaugurated by Mr. Sharad Pawar and participated by farmers, traders and overseas buyers.
Organised Agriculture Leadership Summit 2008, 2009 and 2010. The programs were participated by over 300 persons each time with dignitaries ranging from Governors, Chief Ministers and Central Ministers to top central and state government officials.
Organised AgriTech 2010 from 15 – 18 June at Hyderabad jointly with FAPCCI and Government of AP. The event was nationally highlighted with participation of Ministers, officials and large number of farmers.
Organised National Round Table on Seed Bill 2004 on 12 Aug, 2010 at India International Centre, New Delhi, which was chaired by Prof. MS Swaminathan and participated by MPs, farmers leaders, national experts and industry CEOs.
Qualifications:
B.Sc. Ag, M. Sc. Ag. MBA and Ph.D in agribusiness management
Work Experience:
1. Worked two years for UP Government in Animal Husbandry department
2. Worked for Glaxo India and for EID Parry Ltd. for 2 years as zonal head seeds business
3. Since 1996, working in different roles, as detailed above
Articles written on:
· Over two hundred on various subjects on agriculture and rural economy
· Interviewed several Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, Governors, top officials and experts and participated in various policy level discussions .
· Widely covered in press and media
Special Achievements:
· A nation wide network of 27,000 agriculture professionals
· Provided employment to over 1,000 graduates in projects & agri industry
· Educated over 3,00,000 farmers in various parts of the country
· Prepared Agriculture Development Plans for NE Region
· Successful advocacy on major issues of rural importance
· Created MPs and Farmers national level forums
Personal:
1. Date of birth 1. 11. 1965
2. Income Tax pan no. AFYPK0453J
3. Passport No. H 7188722
3. Marital status Married with one son and one daughter
4. Place of birth Lakhimpur (UP) India
(Dr. M J Khan)
