Secondary Agriculture: Upgrading Agriculture for Jobs and Income

Ashok Dalwai, a former IAS officer, is an economist with a Master’s in Agricultural Economics and a Doctorate in Economics. Professionally, he has deployed his deep knowledge of agricultural sciences in his 40 years of service at both field and policy formulation stages. Rising to senior ranks and occupying important positions as Secretary at the state and central levels, he has to his credit several policies encompassing agriculture, sericulture, textiles, water resources, industry, steel, mines, technology, and urban governance. As Chairman of the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, he submitted the 14-volume Report to the Government of India. The report is globally recognized for its evidence-based strategy. Emphasizing job-led growth, one of the volumes was dedicated to secondary agriculture anchored around farm-linked micro-enterprises, with which Dr.Dalwai’s name is nationally associated. Recognised for a plethora of progressive reforms and fundamental transformations, Dr. Dalwai has won several awards, including Honorary D.Sc., D. Litt, and Professorship from various universities. He is presently serving as Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, in the rank of a Minister, besides heading important committees.

Dr. Ritambhara Singh, an Associate Professor (Agribusiness Management) in Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, India. is a highly accomplished academic and researcher. She holds a Master’s and a Doctorate in Agricultural Economics from the renowned Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, besides earning Certificates from the Universities of Michigan, Cornell, and Illinois, USA, as also from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her 20 years of professional experience spanning across reputed organizations is dotted by national and international projects funded by UNCTAD, World Bank- ICAR, Government of Gujarat, ICSSR, and many more. Of her repertoire of academic interests across the canvas of economics, agri-business management and trade, bioeconomy & circular economy, secondary agriculture has been her passion, to which she has made outstanding contributions. She has several achievements to show, comprising several awards, including that of excellence in reporting by the US Department of Agriculture; membership of professional bodies, as also on the editorial boards of magazines and reputed journals; and more than 200 publications, variously formatted in reputed journals, magazines, and news dailies.