This document provides a summary of S J Lakshman's professional experience and qualifications. He has over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry, currently serving as the General Manager of Extension, R&D, and New Initiatives at Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited. He leads a team that implements strategies to improve productivity and profitability. Prior roles include developing new agribusiness ventures, implementing sustainable farming projects, and pioneering mechanization and irrigation technologies. He holds a Master's degree in Agriculture and has received several awards for his contributions to improving sugarcane cultivation and farmers' livelihoods.

1. S J LAKSHMAN
D 202, SREENIVASA TOWERS,AJEEZNAGAR Mobile :+919865210096 / Residence :+914132206100
REDDIYARPALAYAM,PONDICHERRY– 605010 Email : jlaks10@yahoo.com Skype : sjlaks
Dynamic, multi skilled,innovative and decisiveAgribusinessHead with Masters in Agriculturequalificationand
20 years of rich and wide experience in agriculture business strategy and operations , diverse crop production
technologies, farmer extension services and R&D in new products & technology in agriculture. Currently, Head
of Farmer extension services, Research & Development and New initiatives of the company ensuring growth
in productivity and profitability of company business and promoting new agribusiness.
Spearheading the agribusiness operations of the company with a team of experienced and qualified agriculture
operation and extension managers, officers and scientists to implement strategic interventions in business and
to instill sustainable livehood among farmers and other stake holders of the company.
Can effectively innovate and balance multifaceted concurrent agribusiness projects and operations with
superior analytic, organizational, communication, financial and strategic planning abilities. Flair to take up
challenging role and responsibilities in India or overseas.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
 Strategic business project planning and operations with team building and leadership.
 Successful project formulation and implementation of greenfield agriculture business ventures.
 Sustainability collaborative projects in agriculture supply chain.
 Improved crop production technologies and large scale farming projects.
 Mechanisation and micro irrigation technology implementation.
 Water resource management , audit and conservation projects in agriculture .
 Productivity and Sustainability standards and audit in sugarcane and agriculture.
 Research and Development in agriculture – new products & technology development.
 Connections and collaboration with National / International Institutes and government agencies.
 Farmer extension services , women empowerment , skill development and support programs.
 Rural entrepreneurship development , financial literacy modules and microfinance management.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS
1. General Manager (Extension , R&D & New Initiatives) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited
– from Oct’ 2015.
Key responsibility is to foster continual productivity and efficiency improvement strategies leading to
profitability in company business. Spearheading a team of 240 staff comprising of qualified Operations, R&D &
Extension managers , officers, farmer training officers,research scientists and field stafffor sugarcaneand other
crop cultivation in 40,000 hectares and supply chain management in four integrated sugar complexes of the
company in Tamil Nadu and Telengana.
Directly reporting to the President of the company and Board members on key functions.
New responsibility of developing new agribusiness ventures for the company. Instrumental in developing
Bioproducts (Rajshree Biosolutions LLP company), Pulses seed production, intercropping & produce
marketing and Micro irrigation systems as successful allied business ventures.

2. 2. Deputy General Manager (Extension services) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited
– July 2011 to Oct’ 2015.
3. Assistant General Manager (Sugarcane Development) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited
– Aug’ 2009 to July 2011
Lead the farmer sugarcane development initiative of the company with 80 managers, officers, scientists and
field staff in four integrated sugar complexes of the company. Head of R&D department also from Apr’2015.
Instrumental in nurturing sugarcane area and increasing sugarcane productivity among farmers leading to
remarkable improvement in sugarcane production for the company from 11 lakh to 30 lakh tons in a season
within a span of six years from 2006.
Roles anchored were strategicoperations management , crop productivity improvement , precision farming and
SSI technology in sugarcane, promotion of intercrops and systems, implementing mechanization and micro
irrigation systems , rural entrepreneurship as village centric enterprise, extension services with focus on small
farmers and women empowerment, development of novel training tools and devising R&D technologies for
productivity improvement in sugarcane and other crops.
Notable achievements :
 2014 & 2013 – Rated as highly effective in performance by the company.
 2012 – Award for promoting best practices in sugarcane cultivation from company.
 2011 – Best performer award for sugarcane development initiatives from company.
 2010 – Award from company for implementing mechanization in agriculture through novel model of rural
entrepreneurship.
 Pioneered development of 6000 hecatres under Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) in the state by
incorporating direct seedling planting, drip and mechanization systems.
 Mechanisation promotion and specially trash shredding to cover 4800 hectares with 40 entrepreneur
operated trash shredders , the highest number in operation among sugar companies in the country.
 Developed 325 village centric rural entrepreneur network for nurseries, mechanization and biocontrol
including 84 Women entrepreneurs - concept titled “Sevagams” and lauded by international institutions.
 Key resource team member in developing SAP as a first of its kind Cane management System (CMS) in the
sugar industry.
 Certified top ranking BONSUCRO ( iseal alliance member) auditor, which is the first metric based certification
standard for sugar sector sustainability and ISO 9001 : 2000 management system.
 Water savings and water use efficiency audit by Ernst & Young and Hindustan Unilever with proof of claim
of water savings through technologies.
 Conceived and developed a first of its kind concept of “Mobile Village Theatre (MVT)” with novel video
modules for farmer training & development.
 Conceived and implemented a first of its kind initiative in the country – “Technology and Transactional Voice
and Text messaging service” for farmers in collaboration with IFFCO and Airtel.
 Project Coordinator of Collaborative programs – Conceived, Developed and implemented A) “Farmer
Support Program (FSP)” from 2012 to 2015 with Solidaridad and International Finance Corporation (IFC),
a World bank Body. B) Project on “Sustainable Water Use in Supply chain” from 2014 with Hindustan
Unilever Foundation. C) Prime mover in devising and fostering a Public-Private Partnership project on
“Sustainable Water Use efficiency in Sugarcane” from Sustainable Water Fund (FDW) of Netherlands
Enterprise Agency (Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs) In Dec’2014 .The project was nominated as a
topper among many globally competing projects.

3. 4. Chief Scientist (Cane Development) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited – Mar 2008 to Aug 2009.
5. Senior Scientist (R&D) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited – Apr 2003 to Mar 2008.
Key responsibility was to foster technology intervention in sugarcane agriculture leading to sustained
improvement in raw material quality and production. As Head of R&D division of the company , initiated
establishment and operation of state of the art R&D facilities in Agronomy, Varietal Development,
Biotechnology, Bioproducts, Biocontrol and Soil testing.
Head of the agriculture project team of company and key resource member in fostering expansion of the
company from one sugar factory in 2002 to four integrated sugar complexes by 2007. Lead the project team
for green field project explorations in Northern India, SriLanka and Brazil.
Notable achievements :
 Instrumental in obtaining In-House R&D recognition for the company by Department of Scientific & Industrial
Research, Ministry of Science & technology, Govt. of India.
 Sugarcane varietal development and introduction of many new varieties as Co-ordinator of the company for
the All India Co-ordinated Research Program on Sugarcane , Indian Council of Agrl. Research (ICAR) and
State Agri. Universities.
 Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology – Sugarcane certified disease free seed material production and
nursery program implementation.
 Development of new biocontrol agents for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Tetrastichus, Cotesia ,
Entomopathogenic Nematode (EPN) formulations and Trichogramma production facilities through In-house
production units / Entrepreneurs.
 Development and promotion of novel bioproducts by the company (VAM, Biofertilisers, PGPR’s and
Biocontrol agents).
 Instrumental in nurturing and founding of a new startup company, Rajshree Bio solutions LLP in 2012.
 Drip irrigation and water saving technology implementation in over 8000 hecatres insugarcane and intercrop
cultivation in 6500 Ha , entailing sustainability in cane production and alternate income generation for
farmers.
 Crop care solutions and validation of organic bioproducts in Horticulture and plantation crops through
collaborative projects with reputed Institutes.
6. Scientist (Organic Agriculture) – Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Limited – Aug’ 2000 to Apr’ 2003.
Responsibilities were developing organic cultivation farmer clusters, SOP for organic cane cultivation , organic
sugar production and other organic by-products formulation.
Notable achievements :
 Instrumental in obtaining Control Union certification ( formerly SKAL, Netherlands certification ) for Bio
products and Organic Manure produced by company.
 Pilot scale production of organic sugar , byproducts and developing bioproducts for crop cultivation.

4. 7. Manager (Projects) – Senthil Papain & Food Products Limited – June 1996 to July 2000
Head of Operations with key responsibility of ensuring productivity of business. Lead a 48 member team for
developing papaya cultivation, procurement organization for papaya latex, labor and logistics management of
raw material and ensuring supply chain management for effective factory operations.
Development of new papaya varieties through germplasm development and in-house micropropagation
technology for higher productivity in papaya and papain.
8. Plant Breeder – Birla Seeds – Aug 1994 to Apr 1996
Breeding and Development of new millet (Sorghum and Bajra) hybrids and open pollinated varieties.
QUALIFICATION AND HONOURS
1. Masters in Agriculture from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
2. Gold medalist in the Agriculture graduate program from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
3. Two Merit prizes and Certificate of honor for the best graduate student of the University.
4. The Sugar Technologist association of India – STAI silver medal for best presentation on “Low cost sex
pheromone technology for effective control of borer pests in sugarcane”, 2005.
5. The Sugar Technologist Association of India – STAI silver medal for best presentation on “Inclusive
sugarcane mechanization through through rural technology service providers – Implementtaion mode
modal for Tamil nadu state”, 2014.
PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS /EXPOSURE
 Honor Member - South Indian Sugarcane Technologist Association (STAI) and International Association
of Professional in Sugar and Integrated Technologies (IAPSIT).
 Contacts & Coordination with Premier Government research institutions like Indian Council of
Agricultural research (ICAR), State Agricultural Universities, Department of Scientific & Industrial
Research, Ministry of Science & technology, Govt. of India and Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR).
 Trained in Soil and Pesticide Residue Management in Agriculture & Ecosystems by renowned Scientist
Dr. Richard H Bromilow of Rothamsted Research, 2004.
 Trained in Biological control in Agriculture, National Bureau of Agrl. Important Insects (NBAII), Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, Bangalore, 2003-04.
 Travelled widely to Israel on a Confederation of Indian Industries (CII mission) , China (Small farmer
holding Mechanization), UAE, Sri Lanka and Brazil (Sugarbusiness projects).
 16 publications and presentations in National and International Journals and Seminars/ conferences.
REFERENCES
1. Dr K Mohan Naidu – Director, Rajshree Sugars & Chemicals Ltd and Former Director, Sugarcane
Breeding Institute (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Coimbatore.
Ph : +919842256066 / +919848598022 Email : drmohannaidu@gmail.com
2. Dr M C Gopinathan – Advisor, Solidaridad and International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group)
Ph : +919845162416 Email : gopinathan@threei.in