Professional Experience:
While my peers focused on laboratory research, I embarked on a journey to explore the rich traditional wisdom of Indian agriculture, immersing myself in the biodiversity of seeds alongside local farmers. This experience involved significant unlearning, particularly regarding genetic engineering, and a profound relearning of nature's biodiversity.
One of my notable initiatives has been the "Save Our Rice" campaign, coordinated across the South Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. This campaign has successfully revived three lost heirloom paddy varieties, highlighting the importance of preserving our agricultural heritage. Additionally, I undertook a PAN India tour to rediscover ancient cotton varieties, conducting both in-situ and ex-situ conservation efforts to safeguard this vital resource.
Since 2015, I have been working with farmers in the rain-fed tracts of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, where I promote indigenous cotton and a multi-cropping food system. My efforts include addressing bottlenecks in the old-world cotton value chain and experimenting with various fabrics made from this indigenous cotton in collaboration with local handloom weavers. I believe in decentralized cotton processing as a viable option for generating sustainable rural livelihoods.
My role as a freelance consultant involves developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all activities from seed to fabric using Indian short-stapled indigenous cotton. I have worked with several Khadi organizations, leveraging my extensive experience in this area. Additionally, I served as the Vice President of the Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI), further solidifying my commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
My journey in the organic cotton industry began with Remei India Ltd. (formerly bioRe), a pioneer in establishing organic cotton value chains in India. During my time there, I coordinated a sustainable cotton project for Superdry in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, leading a team of 20 field staff and 5 office staff in data management and project coordination across seven Internal Control Systems (ICS).
Currently, I am part of the RRA Network, where we focus on pilot-to-policy initiatives in rain-fed regions across seven states. In collaboration with civil society organization partners, we gather and analyze data from the field, presenting our findings to bureaucrats to influence policy deliberations.
Over the past 12 years, I have honed my skills in establishing sustainable cotton value chains through my work in sustainable agriculture. My autonomy and diverse experience position me well to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on sustainable practices in agriculture and textile production.
Through my dedicated efforts, I aim to promote biodiversity, support local farmers, and foster sustainable livelihoods while preserving our rich agricultural heritage. I believe that by bridging traditional wisdom with contemporary practices, we can create resilient agricultural systems that benefit both people and the planet.