Rashmi Saini
Agri Industry professional
Gurgaon,Haryana
Summary
Development professional with 10+ years of experience in agriculture policy, stakeholder engagement, and program implementation. Skilled in driving sustainable agriculture, climate-smart initiatives, and value chain development. Experienced in building strong partnerships with government, industry, and civil society to support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and promote inclusive, resilient agri-value chains. Strong background in research, advocacy, market analysis, and multi-stakeholder coordination for impactful, sustainable solutions.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Associate
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII- FACE)
New Delhi
07.2017 - Current
- Spearheaded the Business Support Unit for FPOs across nine states, supporting FPOs through capacity-building on climate-resilient agriculture, enhancing market linkages, strengthening post-harvest management, improving organizational governance, and enabling technology adoption.
- Led the CII Capacity Building Initiative in Himachal Pradesh, focusing on climate-resilient apple value chains—managed field assessments, designed training programs, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
- Authored background papers and policy briefs advocating for sustainable agriculture, improved market access, and inclusive agri-value chains.
- Conceptualized and executed the CII FPO Excellence Awards, engaging over 200 FPOs and ecosystem partners to promote best practices in sustainable and inclusive agri-business.
- Conducted several studies, field assessments, and secondary research to analyse agri value chains and inform strategy development.
- Conducted comprehensive market and value chain assessments in cold chain, marine, horticulture, and dairy sectors; contributed to the design of targeted interventions and business models.
- Supported development of donor proposals, prepared progress reports, and facilitated partnerships with technical institutions and international collaborators.
- Served as the primary point of contact for multi-stakeholder coordination—engaging with government agencies, private sector partners, and subject-matter experts to drive program outcomes.
- Supported national-level policy dialogues, conferences, and roundtables with ministries, industry leaders, and NGOs on food systems, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), climate-resilient agriculture, and sustainability.
Assistant Manager
GLOBAL AGRI SYSTEM PRIVATE LTD
New Delhi
02.2015 - 06.2017
- Conducted comprehensive value chain assessments, field research, and stakeholder mapping for projects supported by the institutes like World Bank, NHB, and MoFPI.
- Led the impact evaluation of schemes under the NHB and Sugar Development Fund, conducting comprehensive field surveys, secondary research, and preparing detailed reports.
- Contributed as part of the team conducting value chain assessments for horticulture commodities under the Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project (MACP).
- Conducted an export potential study for mangoes targeting the Australian market, including analysis of market access requirements and supply chain readiness.
- Assisted in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Mega Food Parks and other infrastructure initiatives under Government of India schemes.
- Supported the development of post-harvest standards and best practices for vegetables in Nepal as part of an international consulting engagement.
- Was part of the Knowledge team for pilot food processing initiatives under NIFTEM, working in collaboration with academia and SMEs.
- Prepared DPR for Mega Food Park at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu under Mega Food Park Scheme of MoFPI, subsequently a member of PMC
Education
Post Graduate Diploma in Management - Agriculture
ICAR-NAARM
Hyderabad ,Telangana 01.2012 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Man
Hyderabad, Telangana 04.2008 - 01.2012
Skills
Policy engagement and advocacy in agriculture and FPO ecosystems
Stakeholder coordination across government, private sector, and NGOs
Program management and multi-state project implementation
Value chain assessments for horticulture, dairy, marine, and cold chain sectors
Field research, secondary data analysis, and impact evaluations
Report writing, policy briefs, and donor documentation
Organizing national-level conferences, workshops, and awards
Capacity building in climate-resilient practices and post-harvest management
Facilitation of market linkages and technology deployment for FPOs
Effective communication, presentation, and teamwork
Experience with public-private partnerships and donor-funded projects
Detailed proposal preparation for donor-funded projects and development institutions
Timeline
Senior Associate
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII- FACE)
07.2017 - Current
Assistant Manager
GLOBAL AGRI SYSTEM PRIVATE LTD
02.2015 - 06.2017
Post Graduate Diploma in Management - Agriculture
ICAR-NAARM
01.2012 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Man
04.2008 - 01.2012