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.
en el marco del encuentro podrán disfrutar de las Cataratas del Iguazú, son sin duda las más
bellas del planeta por estar ubicadas en un marco de vegetación subtropical,
formando parte del Parque Nacional Iguazú. Este majestuoso capricho de la
naturaleza, convertido en Patrimonio de 
