Core Team Members
Lingala Naresh Reddy
Founder|Director
Young farmers’ in the village advised me to stay away from farming and my parents don’t like to see me as a farmer. If any educated person is engaging in farming, the villagers will start creating pressure on the family with rumors and gossips related to job incapability. These are the different experiences I have been facing from childhood. I was born in a tribal village called Duginepally that is situated on the banks of the Godavari River in southern part of India,Telangana.
Unsustainable farming practices pulled Telangana farmers into debts that lead to suicides. The never ending agrarian crisis and farmers’ suicide are creating lot of wrong perception about farming and also causing urban migration. The massive farm dropouts, declining food production and growing population is pressing the need of crisis management plan for future. I want to see Telangana that will inspire the world with multi stakeholder reforms to address agricultural crisis and climate change before they will turn into massive food crisis or unemployment issues.
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Anke Akhilesh | Curriculum Development
Akhilesh has pursued his post-graduation in Education from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Previously he has worked as a freelance, during which he has engaged with the government schools mainly focusing upon understanding teaching and learning in primary schools, teacher professional development and specifically in second language pedagogy. Presently, he is a social intervention expert; and curriculum developer at tharunam.
Duvvada Tejeshwar Rao | Outreach & Strategical Partnerships
Teja has pursued his post graduation in Social Work from Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development in Chennai. He is been involving in several social work activities like forming youth clubs, child rights and fighting against child marriages. Presently, He is working as program planner; and a trainer for tharunam.
Shivani Bundela | Director for Aadya-Women Agribusiness Development
I was born and grew up in Bundelkhand region, the worst drought affected landmass of India. By education, I completed my graduation in Food Technology and Processing from Amity University. In 2020, during the 1st wave of covid 19, I was exploring the natural source of Vitamin C and started making fruit preserves from the backyard of our kitchen. During that time I met Dr. Anil Kumar, Director of Education (Rani Laxmi Bai Central Agriculture University) who believed and encouraged me to work on our local Indian Super fruit (Ber fruit) Indian Jujube which has abundant source of Vitamin C, fiber, zinc, calcium, magnesium and other essential amino acids with amazing health benefits. I am working closely with women farmers who are growing Ber plants which can grow in any soil condition and can withstand harsh climatic conditions.
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Lakshman | Millet for All
B. Lakshman is a farmer & social entrepreneur from Andhra Pradesh. For a year, he worked as a fundraising executive at HOME FUNDRAISING INDIA which partnered with UNICEF India. He also worked as a field investigator for the National level monitoring team regarding central schemes in Adilabad district of Telangana,India. As a farmer, he hasn’t seen proper awareness and skill regarding sustainable farming and suitable market linkages. Such incidents triggered him to contribute for the betterment of the farming community through expert advisory and support.
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Achuta Rama Raju | Center for Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Surender Reddy | Center for Agroforestry Development
Chandu Roy | Awareness Programs & farmer mobilization
