The Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) has appointed former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu as the new Chairman. Prabhu, a board member of the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) and former Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, has been nominated as chairman by the newly constituted 24 members of the ICFA Board.
India’s first Agri Exports Policy was introduced under Prabhu’s leadership in 2018, which resulted in unprecedented growth of agri exports from 15 million metric tonne (MT) in 2018 to 38 million MT in 2022. His commitment to working collaboratively with stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to create a more resilient food system in India would go a long way to building a robust ecosystem for all stakeholders, especially farmers.
“His extensive experience in the global arena, having served on several UN bodies, and as India’s Sherpa for G7 and G20 countries, Prabhu is set to lead ICFA in its mission to promote agro trade, technology and investments in agriculture by expanding ICFA’s global presence through collaborations and partnerships,” said the outgoing chairman, MJ Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Prabhu said, “I am honoured to take on the role of Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture. I believe that by harnessing innovation, collaborating across stakeholders, and focusing on policies that benefit both farmers and the entire food and agriculture value chain, we can transform India into a global leader in agriculture and food security. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to realise this vision.”
Prabhu added that his greater focus would be reaching out and partnering with farmers' organisations by expanding the ICFA network of State and District Agriculture Councils.
“ICFA, through its network of working groups, councils, and strategic collaborations, is committed to positioning India’s agriculture sector at the forefront of global food security and sustainability initiatives,” said Ashok Dalwai, Co-Chair, ICFA Board, adding that the Chamber's vision aligns with Prabhu’s focus on making Indian agriculture globally competitive and capable of producing high-quality food products for both domestic and international markets.
In addition, the new leadership team at ICFA also features Tarun Shridhar (Former Union Secretary) as DG, Ashok Dalwai (Chairman, PM Task Force on DFI) as Co-chair, Meenesh Shah (Chairman, NDDB) and Simon Wiebusch (MD, Bayer Crop Science), as Vice Chairs, who will help the organisation navigate new heights.
