DESH DEEPAK SHARMA

Tel.: +91 8427103238; Mobile: +91 8427103238 E-Mail: ddsharma.agri@gmail.com

AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL WITH 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: AGRI SOURCING/CONTRACT FARMING/ PRODUCTION PLANNING & CONTROL/AGRI PROJECT- OPERATION MANAGEMENT
CAREER OUTLOOK A competent & astute Agribusiness professional with over 20 years of experience in managing business operations; distinction of administering diversified and dynamic business group in a professional manner. Currently associated with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Agribusiness as Deputy General Manager (Operations). A keen executor with strong inter-personal skills able to conceptualise and modify the present system to optimise resources at all levels. Extensive experience in production operations management, R&D, business development for agri products An out-of-the-box thinker & effective communicator with excellent relationship management skills & sound knowledge of the market scenario. Adept in ensuring maximum growth & profitability within the defined guidelines. Demonstrated business acumen in leading and managing the operations and contributed higher rate of organic growth. Deft in implementing cost saving measures to achieve substantial reduction in terms of procurement costs. Effective communicator with excellent relationship management & negotiation skills; possess a flexible & result oriented attitude with analytical skills. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Procurement: Directing the development and implementation of key purchase / procurement strategies, contingency plans and ensuring that plans are aligned with project requirements. Administering wide gamut of tasks such as negotiation & finalization of deals with farmer for purchase of fresh produce. Identifying and developing potential vendors for the right sourcing, achieving cost effective purchases of raw materials. Developing inventory classification code, preparation of standard bill of materials template, streamlining dispatches & customising the inventory management system of the service provider as per requirements. Vendor Development: Strengthening vendor source and developing alternate source of suppliers. Assessing the performance of the vendors based on various criterions such as percentage for rejections, quality improvement rate, timely delivery, credit terms, etc. Monitoring incoming materials supplied by vendors and ensuring they are as per quality & quantity specifications; implementing MRL norms and Residue monitoring systems. Additional responsibility of packing material purchase including vendor development, quotations assessment, scheduling supply according to planned SKU, related commercial aspects and processing for payment within given credit terms. Contract Farming Managing the overall process of Contract Farming covering identification/selection of farmers, signing of contract with them. Fixing the price, providing guidance for the cultivation and buy back at pre-fixed price/terms.

Business Development: Managing business operations with accountability for profitability; forecasting monthly/ annual targets & executing them in given time frame by organisational planning. Providing assistance to Senior Managers in business planning, execution, budget preparation & monthly/annual report generation. Project Management Developing project plans & schedules; interacting with clients to assess budgets; fixing time span of project in view of project schedules. Monitoring the erection & commissioning of the project. Deploying review systems to execute projects on time and within budgeted parameters.

Operations Management Steering operations with a view to achieve organizational objectives and ensure profitability. Conceptualizing & implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure better hygiene and high quality of finished product, in order to command a better price in the market. Submitting documents to commercial for processing of payments. Monitoring the strategies of competitor for their high value supply chain for fresh produce. Working with close relation with sales team & distributors; analyzing & defining their requirements to increase market penetration by volume. Providing consultancy services to farmers for POP and Global Gap Certifications. Collating production data; overseeing availability of product and crop status estimation. Quality Assurance Certified Lead Auditor for QMS ISO 9001:2000 with over 16 years of rich experience in Agri sourcing, Production and Development Operations, Quality Assurance and Auditing. Certification of all quality systems (GLOBALGAP, BRC, HACCP, IS0 9001-2000) requirement of the company and customers. Conducting Quality system audit at various locations. Identifying assignable and chronic causes by the use of latest analysis techniques for eliminating wastages while enhancing production efficiency and productivity. ORGANISATIONAL SCAN Mahindra Agribusiness is a part of US $ 15.9 billion Mahindra & Mahindra group, which is amongst the top 10 industrial houses in India. Its activities support farmers at every step, from seed supply to crop care to distribution. Unique model of Farm Tech Prosperity: Offering farmers technologies to support agricultural productivity. Since April13 with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Agribusiness as DGM (Operation) - New Projects Key Responsibilities Establish new minitubers production facility including world class Tissue culture Lab and Aeroponics. Building business case of upcoming project of Agri Processing Unit. Development of Farmer Producer Companies (FPC) to leverage business opportunities and farm prosperity. Deployment of IT Project at farmer level. Building Operational Excellence as per The Mahindra Way (TMW) through strengthening of Daily Work Management (DWM), Mahindra Yellow Belt (MYB) Project and Kaizen.

Notable Attainments Introduction of latest technology known as CETS Technology of AstrotuberTM production in Phytotrons. From April11 to March13 with Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Agribusiness as DGM (Agronomy) Key Responsibilities Production of early Generation Seed Potato from Tissue culture plants to Generation 3 for marketing. Overseeing the contract Farming of about 2500 Acres Area in Punjab, Haryana and West UP. Sourcing /Procurement of 30,000 MT Potato for trading/processing.

Notable Attainments Won Mahindra Innovation Award for developing a new business model for seed potato production and marketing. Developed new geographies for seed potato production. Developed strong team and farmer network for outsourcing. From Sep08 to April11 with Mahindra Shubhlabh Services Ltd. as Facility Manager Key Responsibilities Managing the production of virus free Tissue Culture plants of Potato. Handling the maintenance of more than 15 varieties of Potato as per the market trend & analysis Managing the overall production of Potato Minitubers under protected conditions. Handling the finalization of Potato Minituber Production Facility under guidance of Dutch consultant. Monitoring the R&D of proposed Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), a kind of Hydroponics as part of upcoming Facility.

Notable Attainments Developed low investment model of Potato Minituber Production and successfully commissioned Facility at Palampur (Himachal Pradesh).

Signed agreement with institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT), a premier institute and a constituent

laboratory of CSIR, India for using their facility.

Developed technique to bring down cost of potato minituber by 50%. Imported 10 potato varieties from HZPC, Holland and produced their minitubers using in house technology.

Mar92 to Sep08 with Flex Foods Ltd., Dehradun A 100% E.O.U. covering operations of Freeze Drying Unit, Freezing (IQF) Unit, Air Drying unit for fruits, vegetables and Culinary Herbs, Canning Unit and Captive Mushroom Farm with Growing capacity of 2000 T.P.A, growing of Culinary Herbs and Blast Freezing unit & cold storage facility for herbs. The Growth Path: Mar92-Aug93 Executive (Mushroom Farm) Aug94-Mar97 Sr. Executive (R&D), Ooty (Tamil Nadu): Production of Globe Artichoke in Nilgiris Apr97-Mar01 Asst. Manager (Horticulture) Apr01-Mar03 Dy. Manager (Horticulture) June03-Mar06 Manager (Horticulture & Agri Sourcing) Apr06-May08 Sr. Manager (Agri Sourcing) May08-Sep08 A.G.M. (Operation) Key Responsibilities Identifying farmers for the farmer development programme to improve farming practices after a study of the prevailing domestic & international market conditions, in association with farming research organisations. Planning various procedures for sourcing of all herbs along with the fruit & vegetables as per the business requirement. Notable Attainments Proven track record of overseeing several projects on vegetables, fruits & culinary herbs, mushroom spawn of different imported strains through various techniques. Pivotal in managing contract farming of: 5000 MT of European culinary herbs for exports like: Dill/ Thyme/ Sweet Basil/ Chervil Marjoram/ Parsley/ Greek Oregano/ Sage Cress/ Spear Mint/ Savory/ Sorrel 2000 MT of exotic fruits & vegetables like: Leek/ Jalapeno/ Chives Spring Onion/ Sweet Corn/ Broccoli Shallots/ Baby Corn/ Strawberries Distinction of developing new crops like Rosemary, Tarragon, Stevia, etc and monitoring farming within 1000 acres area around Dehradun successfully. Served as an active member of Quality Management System (ISO 9001-2000). Actively involved in development & implementation of Global Gap Systems (Version 3.0-2_April08) at Mushroom Farm & Fields. OTHER ASSIGNMENT Mar03-May03 with Chahal Mushroom Ltd., Chandigarh) as Project Manager TRAININGS UNDERGONE Growing culinary herbs in Denmark/ Sweden in 2000 & 2002. ISO 9000:2000 Series Foundation & Internal Auditor Training from Indian Institute of Quality Management (IIQM), Jaipur. SCHOLASTICS 2013 2011 2007 2004 1991 1989 Managing the Business from Harvard Business School, Boston, U.S.A Through e-learning Managing Contract Farming from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmadabad. M.B.A. (Operations) from Institute of Management Technology (I.M.T.), Ghaziabad Diploma in Export Management (Correspondence) from National Institute of Export Management, Chennai. M.Sc. (Agriculture) with specialization in Horticulture from Agra University B.Sc. (Agriculture) Honours from Agra University. IT SKILLS Well versed with Windows, MS Office and Internet applications. PERSONAL DOSSIER Date of Birth: 7th July 1969.

Address:

1675, Sector 70, Near Sant Ishar Singh School, Mohali (Punjab) - 160055