CV Binita Shah

Name: Ms Binita Shah      

Is primarily an organic farmer who aspired to promote organic farming in the new state of Uttarakhand. After working in different organizations in the field of social forestry and dairy, Ms Binita joined the Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board, Dehradun in 2003 and since then has been working as chief executive.

Educational Qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts, Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications, Msc in Environment and Ecology.

Work Experience:

Ms Binita has hands on experience in agriculture and agriculture development with an expertise in Biodynamic farming. She has spent 21 years in the field of Social Forestry, Dairy farming, Organic Crop Production, Biodynamic Agriculture, Extension & Training of Farmers, Crop Demonstration, Project formulation and Implementation, Drafting models for quality control of

organic farmers and marketing of organic products in different formats.

Binita has led various projects for the Organic / Biodynamic Agriculture development in different states in India. Projects have involved thousands of farmers.

Binita ‘ role has been pivotal in project conception and implementation for mid size and large projects which are based on holistic development of livelihood for small and marginal farmers where food and nutrition security are paramount.

Ms Binita has traveled excessively across the country and abroad. She has been invited to share experience with farmers and other stake holders in Sweden, Switzerland and China. She has attended workshops and seminars in Germany, Norway, London and Nepal.

1.1 Started a career as Project Manager in Symphony Farm and Forest ( P ) Ltd, Madhya Pradesh in 1993-95 where she led a campaign for social forestry, moved from sales communication to project implementation in the same organization. As a part of the project also assisted in setting up a milk production & processing unit in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh.

1.2 Trained as an apprentice in Biodynamic agriculture in 1994-96 under the guidance of Mr Peter Proctor, New Zealand in Indore Madhya Pradesh after which she started with the small scale production of biodynamic

preparations in Madhya Pradesh for small soybean farmers.

1.3 In 1998, Ms Binita moved to her parental estate and orchard where she set up a small enterprise SUPA Biotech (P) Ltd in rural Nainital to promote biodynamic agriculture among small farmers. Since 1999 SUPA has developed Biodynamic farming as an alternate farming system for thousands of farmers. SUPA is the largest BD preparation producer in India.

Over the years SUPA was empanelled as a resource agency for different agriculture development projects in India and is active in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

1.4 In 2001 Ms Binita wrote a position paper for the promotion of Organic Farming as an important diversification for the new state of Uttarakhand to the new government.

1.5 Was given the task of setting up the first and only State Organic Commodity Board in the country in 2003 by the state government where more than 100,000 farmers are presently covered under the ambit of the state policy. The state is now a model for organic farming initiative in the country. The UOCB has been referred in the Tenth Plan MID Term Review as a Success Story.

UOCB has in the last twelve years evolved into a single window organization for the promotion of Organic Agriculture in the state. The organization is able to provide service and solution to farmers, development organizations, trade agencies, entrepreneurs and government agencies for the business of organic agriculture. The UOCB has also trained a work force of manpower skilled in this field.

Additional Work experience:

Member in the National Technical Committee for National Standards for India: 2005-2008

Member in the National Task Force for Organic Farming for Preparation of the 11th Plan for Government of India: 2007

Expertise: Pioneer in Biodynamic agriculture in the country, as hands on orchardist, press mud composting with sugar mills and distilleries.

Report and Studies:

Incumbent has authored several articles, projects, technical literature, books and periodicals on the different aspects of Organic production, Action Research, Internal Control System and Biodynamic Agriculture.

Hobbies:

Has been in the state junior equestrian team of MP (1986-89), has been a voluntary worker for the Animal Welfare Programs as a youth.

Special interest in the promotion of local and non -descript cows for mountains.

Writing poems & articles on spirituality and social issues, walking the rural vistas is always a favorite indulgence.

Personal details: Binita is married to Sandeep Negi who serves in the Indian Army and has one son.