Expert Details
Tea Cultivation, Processing and Marketing; Organic Tea, Organic Certification & Third Party Auditing
ID: 730418
India
A high energy, conscious, and goal-driven technology executive, he approaches each new challenge with his intrinsic flair for innovation, creative problem-solving, and measured risk-taking to drive consistent bottom-line improvements and economic returns.
Core Competencies:
• Tea Estate Management
• Tea Production and Processing - Organic and Non-Organic
• Tea Sourcing
• Marketing of Organic, Fair Trade Tea Products. Contacts worldwide
• Organic and Small Scale Agronomy. Low Input Cost Agriculture. Use of Bio pesticides and Pesticide Residues
• Organic Conversion & Certification Advice and Pre-Certification Systems and Traceability Audits
• Research & Development - Crops and Agro-Industrial Processing
• Education & Training - Large and Small - Scale Farming - Practical Aspects of crop Production - Conducting Seminars and Workshops
• Project Management and Team Leadership
• Preparation of Studies, Reports and Manuals.
• General Business Management Consultancy. Accounting systems and Budgets.
• Quality Control Systems and Operations Manuals Including HACCP.
Tea Companies of India:
• Providing consultancy services on all aspects of cultivation, processing, sales and marketing of tea and other products to wide range of clientele including - growers, land owners, investors etc.
• Monitoring organic certification process, trade and marketing of organic produce, food hygiene and safety, quality system development, HACCP’s, marketing & PR support, processing, manufacturing, packaging to meet organic standards, Standards and Regulations support.
Have recently completed World Bank project on the “Strategy of Rwanda Tea”. This study is not an econometric model or value-chain analysis, but rather a practical expert view of the tea sector. The work method was to enter Rwanda, immerse in the tea business and provide real world, practical opinions and analysis of the tea sector privatization and path for future development. Visited different tea estate, green field projects as well as tea factories of Rwanda. Evaluated, assessed and submitted report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Rwanda.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1997 | Degree: Post Doctorate | Subject: Biology/Ecology | Institution: University of Antwerpen, Belgium |
| Year: 1979 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Agriculture/ Science | Institution: Kolkata University, India |
| Year: 1975 | Degree: Master of Science | Subject: Agri/Botany | Institution: Burdwan University |
| Year: 1972 | Degree: Bachelor of Science | Subject: Botany | Institution: City College |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2007 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Chief Consultant | Department: Agriculture |
Responsibilities:1. Providing consultancy services on all aspects of cultivation, processing, blending, tea sourcing, sales and buying, marketing of tea to wide range of clientele including - growers, land owners, investors etc.2. Monitoring organic certification process, trade and marketing of organic produce, food hygiene and safety, quality system development, HACCP’s, marketing & PR support, processing, manufacturing, packaging to meet organic standards, Standards and Regulations support. Current clients are: Maple Orgtech India Limited, different tea estates and Government and non-government organizations and farmers/planters, South Korean tea company etc. Experience on African Tea: Have recently completed World Bank project on the “Strategy of Rwanda Tea”. This study is not an econometric model or value-chain analysis, but rather a practical expert view of the tea sector. The work method was to enter Rwanda, immerse in the tea business and provide real world, practical opinions and analysis of the tea sector privatization and path for future development. Visited different tea estates, factories, green field projects of Rwanda. Evaluated, assessed and submitted report to the Ministry of agriculture, Government of Rwanda. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2007 | Employer: | Title: Technical Advisor | Department: Organic Agriculture |
Responsibilities:• Drawing up project on different agricultural crops and providing technical support for project development, implementation, monitoring and marketing of processed product.• Identification of appropriate technologies that will ensure innovation and competitiveness for the long term. • Monitoring application of appropriate research methodologies and analysis of research information / evidences gathered from different sources. • Providing technical guidance on marketing of company’s products. • Providing professional advice on different organic agricultural issues, livestock based farming system to the stakeholders and other partners using EM technology. • Strengthening partnerships at national and international levels. • Preparation of course curriculum, study material and training manual for use of farmers and researchers. • Nurturing of productive relations with agricultural industry, NGOs, policy planers, stakeholders and farmers association/cooperatives. • Communication related on technical matters to the end users and other audiences |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1988 to 2006 | Employer: Tea Board of India | Title: Director | Department: Darjeeling Tea Research & Development Centre |
Responsibilities:1. Entrusted with overall responsibility for management of the Tea Boards tea plantation.2. Providing advice on the cultivation, marketing and export of tea to the different tea garden managers and stakeholders. 3. Professionally matured in identifying national and international buyers and development of markets and sales/export of tea. 4. Providing advice on tea manufacture and quality control of tea, and also implementation of quality control practices. 5. Providing professional support to the stakeholders, government departments on different aspects of cultivation, export and marketing of tea. 6. Nurtured productive relations with tea industry, policy makers, stakeholders and scientists. 7. Represented Tea Board of India to the national and international fora in Japan, China, UK, France, South Korea and Belgium. 8. Conducted training sessions for technical personnel to update their skills on operational procedures and other allied matters on tea. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1988 to 2006 | Agency: Ministry of Commerce & Supply | Role: Director, Tea Board of India | Description: • Entrusted with overall responsibility for management of the Tea Board’s tea estate.• Professionally matured in manufacturing teas as per the requirements of the national and international buyers.• Demonstrated competencies for quality control of tea, and also implementation of quality control practices in the tea estate.• Conducted research on different aspects of tea growing and tea manufacturing.• Nurtured productive relations with tea industry, policy makers, stakeholders and scientists.• Represented Tea Board of India to the national and international tea conferences held in Japan, China, UK, France and Belgium.• Conducted training sessions for technical personnel to update their skills on operational procedures and other allied matters on tea. • Acted as a Member of the Evaluation Committee: Organic Certification Body of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), government of India, frequently audited the farmer’s fields and offices of the inspection and certification agencies accredited under National Programme for Organic Production in India for the period from 2000 to 2006. |
| Years: 1980 to 1988 | Agency: Ministry of Commerce, Rubber Board of India | Role: Plant Breeder | Description: • Designing & implementation of R & D projects on Hevea rubber.• Providing advisory and training support to large and small growers of natural rubber on different aspects of cultivation, processing and marketing. • Periodically organized workshops and field seminars to update skills of the target groups. • Proactively interfaced with stakeholders and scientists of national and international research institutes and universities to exchange views and advance collaborative research. |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1997 to 1998 | Country / Region: Belgium | Summary: Expert. Expert joined the department of Biology and worked on growth, development and radiation interception of first growing short radiation biomass culture. |
| Years: 1988 to 2006 | Country / Region: | Summary: Worked as advisor to the tea planters, different Govt. plantations and seventy seven tea estates of Darjeeling hills on different aspects of conventional and organic tea cultivation, export, marketing etc during my tenure in Darjeeling Tea Research and Development Centre. |
| Years: 2011 to 2011 | Country / Region: Rwanda, Africa | Summary: This study is not an econometric model or value-chain analysis, but rather a practical expert view of the tea sector. The work method was to enter Rwanda, immerse in the tea business and provide real world, practical opinions and analysis of the tea sector privatization and path for future development. Background. Rwanda’s tea sector has been in the process of privatization for the past decades. This is hoped to drive the Rwanda tea sector to a state where Rwanda’s tea is appreciated on the marketplace monetarily, and that the small holders involved in the tea make a better return for their labors. The first rounds recent privatizations are complete and new ownership structures are in place. The Government of Rwanda, Ministry of Agriculture contracted with TJPMD to analyze four different aspects of the privatization process. 1. Analysis of Factories & Greenfield Sites. Consultants reviewed the steps of the recently completed privatizations and described steps and analyzed the process and performance in view of industry standards and best practices for agricultural privatization processes.2. Investment Analysis. Consultants looked at the value and valuations of soon to be privatized tea factories. This included factory assets and factors such as the production potential and quality of incoming and outgoing tea. 3. Pricing Analysis. Consultants looked at the intrinsic value of Rwanda tea and the way in which is it priced, and currently marketed. Recommendations were made on pricing, product diversification and market research and development. 4. Regulatory Framework. Consultants looked at various models and regulatory scenarios for tea including various tea boards and oversight organizations. Current Rwanda structure was described and recommendations made for industry research, development and market advancement.1. Analysis of Factories & Greenfield Sites. The privatization process is a necessary path for the development of the tea sector, and the initial round has been well planned and executed. The sales prices received for factories were attractive to outside tea processors and investment groups and the current operations have proved to be a desirable combination of foreign and local operation. Experienced local staffs have been retained, and morale and business operations are in full swing with positive progress to date. While the obligations listed in the bids and sale agreements were ambitious, the new owners have moved ahead aggressively with machinery and infrastructure improvements, and other plans in the works. Obligations include diversification of the product lines. This is a logical next step for these companies who are looking to their foreign partners for marketing assistance and support in making the right directional moves. Monthly and yearly reports are required and have been fulfilled. Consultants made some recommendations including:• The fundamentals of the privatization process were sound and followed industry standards and best practices. Professionals involved in the process performed with a high level of expertise, looking out for the good of the country and small holders in particular.• Already, privatized factories have shown improvements in productivity, pricing at auction and quality.• Throughout the privatization process, successful efforts were made to leverage the performance of buyers in conducting business in a manner that would benefit small holders and stakeholders in the adjoining region. Requirements were made for major improvements and investments and some very valuable and expensive additions to operations including equipment and new lines.• Quantification and benchmarking of progress sale performance of specific importance to the livelihood of smallholders. This would include average price paid for green leaf, average price of tea sales and other factors. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Agricultural Society of India |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| • Expert Consultant, World Bank • Expert-Faculty, National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), Quality Council of India, New Delhi-12. • Panel of Expert, Global Speakers Bureau • Panel of Expert, Insight Alpha Consulting • Council Member, GLG Energy & Industrials Councils, Gerson Lehrman Group. • Member, Tea Science Advisory Committee, North Bengal University • Member, Evaluation Committee: Organic Certification Body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA) Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Govt. of India. • Member Secretary, Advisory committee of DTRDC, Tea Board of India • Recognized research guide of the North Bengal University and Kalyani University, West Bengal, India for guiding research leading to PhD degree, and assessor of work done by the research scholars for doctoral degree. • Evaluator of schemes/projects submitted for funding to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. • Reviewer of the different research journals on the suitability of publication of articles. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| International award from Tea Society of Japan National plant scientist award (Gold Medalist) |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| He has 97 research papers and four books |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Capacity Building, Markets & Trade, Market Research & Value Chain Development, Quality Control, Organic Farming & Fair trade, Farm Management Economics, Collaboration, Training & Communication |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| 1. Tea Small Growers Training on cultivation, pesticides application and pesticide residue and application of biopesticides. 2. Organised seminars (4nos) |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Tea sourcing and procurement |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Tea industry Organic Agriculture |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| General Management, Agriculture Project Consultancy, Project Planning & implementation, Budgeting & Cost Estimates, Accounting systems, Research & Development, Plantation, Processing, Marketing, Quality Control, Training & Development |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| English | |
| Nepali |