Education

Employment

About me (Dr. Gowri Sankara Rao)

I hold a doctoral degree in Seed Science and Technology from the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, and bring deep expertise in seed systems, agroecological farming, and agricultural research. Over the course of my career, I have worked across the ICAR system, Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), international development agencies, the private seed sector, academia, and the broader livelihoods and development ecosystem.

A central strength of my professional journey has been translating research into tangible, field-level impact. I have played a pivotal role in developing and commercializing high-performing seed technologies and crop hybrids that have significantly enhanced farmer productivity and resilience. I was the first and a key architect of the successful PPP model (IFSSA), effectively bridging public-sector innovation from ICAR/CGIAR institutions (ICRISAT, IARI, VPKAS, JNKVV) with private-sector scalability, entrepreneurship, and last-mile delivery.

My international assignments involved strengthening global seed systems, managing complex technology-transfer programs, and contributing to policy harmonization across geographies. Through this work, I have supported the development of robust seed supply chains from genetic development to farmer-level adoption, thus, contributing meaningfully to food security and climate-resilient agriculture.

Drawing from my extensive field experience, I expanded my work into academic and institutional innovation. As Founder Dean at multiple private agricultural universities, I led major reforms in agricultural education by shifting the focus from theoretical instruction to experiential learning, skill-building, and employability. I introduced hands-on curricula that integrated industry exposure, innovation, and real-world problem-solving, shaping graduates capable of leading future transitions in agriculture.

A major dimension of my expertise lies in agroecology, natural farming, and livelihood-oriented farming systems. I have successfully designed and established Bioresource Centres (BRCs) to produce bio-inputs essential for organic, natural, and agroecological farming. My technical and operational skills span developing BRCs at household, community, FPO, and entrepreneurial scales.

My work also includes establishing diverse agroecological production systems such as multilayer farming, staggered vegetable models, integrated farming systems, desi poultry, goat & sheep farming, dairy, and participatory varietal selection for engaging farmer scientists, seed growers, women’s collectives, and FPO federations. These systems have not only improved production sustainability but also strengthened rural livelihoods, resilience, and community-level enterprises.

What truly distinguishes my career is my ability to operationalize and manage complex, large-scale agricultural and livelihood systems. My experience cuts across Agricultural Research, Seed Entrepreneurship, Public–Private Partnerships, Integrated Livestock and Large-scale Dairy, Precision Agriculture, Climate-resilient Farming, Capacity Building, Extension, and Rural Livelihood Promotion. This multidisciplinary exposure has enabled me to work at the intersection of science, systems, markets, and communities, thus, creating impactful and sustainable agricultural solutions.