R Subramaniya Venkatraman
Trivandrum
Summary
Dynamic agribusiness leader with extensive experience at Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, excelling in project management and stakeholder coordination. Proven track record in developing innovative agri-tech solutions and business models, enhancing operational efficiency and driving sustainable growth. Adept at value chain analysis, fostering partnerships, and delivering impactful training programs.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Non-Key Expert KERA Project (Agri Startup)
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Trivandrum
11.2025 - Current
- Working closely with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) to identify, mentor, and facilitate scaling of innovative agri-startups under the KERA project framework.
- Coordinating with KINFRA for the establishment and operationalization of Agri Food Parks, including infrastructure planning, business model structuring, and private sector participation.
- Assisting in designing and executing startup incubation, acceleration, and funding support programs specific to agri-tech and agri-value chain solutions.
- Facilitating partnership linkages among startups, FPOs, investors, and incubation centers to foster innovation-driven agriculture enterprises.
Value Chain Expert, KERA Project
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Trivandrum
05.2024 - Current
- Project Implementation Manual Development: Authored comprehensive Project Implementation Manuals (PIMs) for Rubber, Coffee, Cardamom and productive alliances subcomponents, detailing objectives, eligibility criteria, grant mechanisms, training programs, and monitoring frameworks to guide project execution.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborated with the Plantation Directorate, Commodity Boards (Rubber Board, Coffee Board, Spices Board), and other agencies to design and align replantation strategies, training modules, and grant disbursement processes.
- Technical and Financial Frameworks: Developed guidelines for replanting grants (e.g., Rs. 75,000/ha for rubber, Rs. 1,10,000/ha for coffee, Rs. 1,00,000/ha for cardamom), irrigation support, nursery subsidies, and ECO certification, ensuring compliance with World Bank procurement and environmental standards.
- Capacity Building Design: Structured training programs for farmers, KERA Field Officers (KFOs), bank staff, and other stakeholders, focusing on climate-resilient practices, financial literacy, and market linkage development.
- Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Contributed to the design of an Integrated Project Management System (IPMS) and KERA App for real-time tracking of applications, field verifications, and grant utilization, enhancing transparency and accountability.
- Productive Alliances Strategy: Formulated strategies for establishing 150 PAs, including call for proposals, business plan development, and tripartite agreements between FPCs, ABPs, and the State Project Management Unit (SPMU).
Agribusiness Expert, SFAC Kerala RKVY FPO Promotion Scheme 2019-20
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
05.2024 - Current
- Served as a statewide consulting agency for the Project Monitoring Unit under the Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala.
- Conducted periodic monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the project's physical and financial status, while recommending corrective measures.
- Undertook field visits to various Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for status evaluation and assessment.
- Led the recruitment process for CEOs of Farmer Producer Companies formed under the project across all districts.
- Conducted orientation and capacity-building sessions for project stakeholders, including FPO chairpersons, CEOs, agriculture department officials, and local resource persons.
- Prepared business plans, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
Team Leader
ISAP India Foundation
Tiruchirappalli
07.2023 - 04.2024
- Liaised with senior officials from Agriculture and Industries departments to align FPC initiatives with government programs, identify convergence opportunities, and enable access to incentives, funding, and digital platforms/agri-tech solutions for enhanced productivity and market reach.
- Promoted sustainable practices via Common Facility Centres (CFCs), infrastructure development, and contributions to multilateral development programs emphasizing inclusive growth and rural empowerment.
Team Leader (Agribusiness), Rural Livelihood Development by HDFC Parivarthan
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Ludhiana
01.2023 - 06.2023
- Developed training modules pertaining to FPO management & ecosystem development, FPO interventions, business cases of successful FPO interventions, twinning with GoI schemes: MoFPI, MoMSME, AIF, Credit guarantee fund, NHB, FPC compliances, etc.
- Periodic reviews and mentoring sessions with FPC CEOs for latest updates, financial and physical performance monitoring of FPCs and facilitate cross learning of the CEOs.
- Preparing customized sustainable business plans for Agri infrastructures, leveraging on PPPs and schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, where feasible.
- Facilitated discussion- facilitated the improvement of farmers' income by providing crop advisory services, agri input linkages, and promoting small-scale agri processing facilities like Common Facility Centres (CFCs). Collaborations with government institutions, such as local KVKs and CIPHET, resulted in effective training programs for the farming community.
- Contributed towards DPR preparation of the FPCs requiring urgent financial support from banks and also facilitated application filing, query resolution and loan approvals through close liasioning with scheme officers of PMFME, AIF, NABKISAN by creating respective WhatsApp groups and periodic reviews for fast racking beneficiary applications.
Team Leader (Agribusiness), TNIAMP
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Chennai
08.2020 - 04.2023
- Led baseline surveys and diagnostic studies to identify potential agri-clusters and entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Facilitated the formation and registration of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) under the Producer Company Act.
- Mobilized farmers and formed functional groups, fostering grassroots entrepreneurship.
- Developed comprehensive business plans for FPCs, including input facilitation, custom hiring, and direct marketing strategies.
- Conducted value chain analysis and crop assessments to identify viable business opportunities.
- Conducted training need assessments and organized capacity-building workshops for Board of Directors and key stakeholders.
- Delivered mentoring and technical support to agri-startups and FPOs, enhancing operational efficiency and governance.
- Liaised with senior officials from Agriculture and Industries departments to align FPC activities with government programs.
- Identified convergence opportunities with schemes and facilitated access to incentives and funding mechanisms.
- Promoted sustainable practices through establishment of Common Facility Centres (CFCs) and infrastructure development.
Chief Executive Officer
Tiruchirappalli Malaikkottai Collective Farming Producer Company Limited
Tiruchirappalli
12.2018 - 05.2020
- Drive product development and innovation.
- Oversee daily operations and ensure efficiency.
- Manage the company's financial performance.
- Conduct market research and develop strategies.
- Build and maintain strong customer relationships.
- Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Develop and implement plans for business growth and scaling.
- Analysis of Business Operations (AOBO) of cluster, SWOT analysis in brief, vision for the cluster (both short term and long term), suggestions for present/future interventions.
- Assess the need for Agri infrastructure.
- Assess the need for support services (transactional services).
- Assess the existing schemes of various State Govt., Central Govt, MSME-DI (MSME Development Institutions) and other MSME related schemes.
- Estimate the credit gap in the selected cluster by estimating the current demand & supply in the cluster.
Farm Manager
KT Organic Farms
06.2015 - 05.2016
- Oversaw all farm operations to ensure efficient and effective management of resources.
- Maintained detailed records of all farm activities for accurate documentation and future reference.
- Assisted in identifying and implementing income-generating activities to enhance farm profitability.
- Developed and managed crop plans and rotations to maximize yield and maintain soil health.
- Monitored and managed pest and disease control measures to protect crops and ensure healthy growth.
- Provided training to farm laborers and staff on best practices in integrated farming systems.
- Participated in extension activities to disseminate knowledge and promote integrated farming practices among local farmers.
- Managed the allocation of resources, including seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.
- Implemented sustainable farming practices to enhance environmental stewardship and long-term farm viability.
- Oversaw the planting, nurturing, and harvesting of organic crops.
- Organized the sale and marketing of farm produce.
- Managed relationships with vendors, suppliers, and customers.
- Performed administrative duties such as record keeping, budgeting, and reporting.
Education
Masters - Agribusiness Management
Institute of Agribusiness Management (SKRAU)
Rajasthan06-2018
Bachelor’s - agriculture
PAJANCO&RI, (TNAU)
Coimbatore07-2015
Skills
- Agri-tech solutions
- Project management
- Business model structuring
- Microsoft office
- Value chain analysis
- Stakeholder coordination
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 05/24/94
- Nationality: Indian
Certification
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
International Institute for Management and Quality (IIMQ)
Certificate No: IIMQ2022BB0703
International Institute for Management and Quality (IIMQ)
Certificate No: IIMQ2022BB0703
Trainings And Achievements
• Moderated ASSOCHAM TN Trillion Dollar Economy at Chennai on enabling policy environment, infrastructure, and logistics enabling ecosystem for robust credit access and delivery (green finance), skilling – shaping the trillion dollar workforce, optimising procurement and inputs, enabling market and demand conditions and connectivity, emerging sectors (electronics, semi-conductors, biotechnology, defence); technology, innovation ecosystem
Training in the RACP project is to spread awareness about the concept of Farmer Producer Companies among the farmers of the cluster in Rajasthan
PG internship at Matix Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited - to create awareness of Dr. Fasal urea among the farmers of Bihar (January 2018 – March 2018 and June – July 2018)
Participated in and prepared a business plan for the training workshop conducted by NABARD, held at Agricultural College, Madurai
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Tamil
Native
Native
Hindi
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Malayalam
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Timeline
Non-Key Expert KERA Project (Agri Startup)
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
11.2025 - Current
Value Chain Expert, KERA Project
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
05.2024 - Current
Agribusiness Expert, SFAC Kerala RKVY FPO Promotion Scheme 2019-20
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
05.2024 - Current
Team Leader
ISAP India Foundation
07.2023 - 04.2024
Team Leader (Agribusiness), Rural Livelihood Development by HDFC Parivarthan
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
01.2023 - 06.2023
Team Leader (Agribusiness), TNIAMP
Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
08.2020 - 04.2023
Chief Executive Officer
Tiruchirappalli Malaikkottai Collective Farming Producer Company Limited
12.2018 - 05.2020
Farm Manager
KT Organic Farms
06.2015 - 05.2016
Masters - Agribusiness Management
Institute of Agribusiness Management (SKRAU)
Bachelor’s - agriculture
PAJANCO&RI, (TNAU)