Round Table Discussion
Protected Cultivation as a Strategy for Crop Diversification and Income Growth
Date: April 27, 2026 (Monday),

AGENDA

09:30 – 10:00 am : Registration and Welcome Tea/Coffee

10:00 – 10:15 am : Welcome Remarks
Dr. Shekhar Aiyar, Director & Chief Executive, ICRIER

Introduction of the Topic
Dr. Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER

10:15 – 10:30 am : Keynote Address
Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Former Director, LBSNAA, Former Mission Director and
Joint Secretary, NHM and NMMI, Department of Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Senior Fellow (Contemporary History), Prime Ministers’ Memorial

10:30 – 10:45 am : Special Address
Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi, Former Director, International Food Policy Research Institute, Vice President, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences; President, Agricultural Economics Research Association; and Member, Board of Directors of Asia-Pacific Agriculture Policy Forum, South Korea

10:45 – 11:00 am : Report Launch – Augmenting Farmers’ Income through Protected Cultivation

11:00–12:00 noon : Panel Topic 1: Role of Institutions in Promoting Protected Cultivation
Panellists:
• Mr. Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary, Horticulture, MoA&FW
• Mr. Rajeeb Kumar Roy, Founder,MD, and CEO, Agriplast
• Dr. Pothula Srinivasa Brahmanand, In Charge, Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
• Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Haryana (Karnal) MIDH Centre of Excellence
• Mr. Brihama Dev, Project Officer MASHAV at Embassy of Israel
• Mr. Gaurav Narang, Founder at CityGreens (Virtually)

12.00-12.15 pm: Tea Break

12:15 – 01:15 pm : Panel Topic 2: Value Chain Strengthening and Income Enhancement
Chair: Dr. Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER
Panellists:
• Dr. K.J.S Satyasai, Retired Chief General Manager (CGM) of NABARD
• Mr. Shripad Jadhav, Senior Executive Vice President, Business Head – Agri & Rural Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
• Mr Rajiv Siwach, Chief General Manager (CGM) of NABARD
• Mr. Avdhesh Kumar, Venture Builder and Regional Head Fresh category, Sourcing and Supply Chain, Zepto
• Mr. Ravi Shankar Sharma, Vice President (Ex) ONDC Network expansion in Agri Domain
• Mr. Sandeep Bhatia, Managing Director, Green Staple Pvt. Ltd.

01:15 – 01:30 pm : Q & A Session

01:30 – 01:45 pm : Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks
Dr. Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER

01:30 pm onwards : Lunch