Professional Experience:
With over 14 years of professional experience in research, project coordination, and institutional collaborations, I have built a career at the intersection of agriculture, livestock, gender, and rural development. Presently, I serve as a Scientist – Research Project Coordinator (Agricultural Economics) at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), New Delhi, where I coordinate multi-country projects and lead research on changing farming systems in South Asia. My work consistently bridges the gap between academic research and on-the-ground implementation, ensuring that insights translate into meaningful impact for rural communities.
My academic foundation, including a Ph.D. in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (2012) and M.Phil. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Hyderabad, has been central to shaping my research trajectory.
At ILRI, I have gained extensive experience in designing, managing, and evaluating large-scale research projects across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. My role involves building research collaborations and partnerships with universities, NGOs, farmers’ collectives, government agencies, and other stakeholders. I have successfully set up innovation platforms that bring together diverse actors to co-create solutions, improve technology dissemination, and address the gendered dimensions of agricultural change. These collaborations have strengthened institutional links and facilitated capacity-building of rural communities.
My research interests span agricultural economics, contract farming, livestock development, value chains, rural institutions, and gender studies. Over the years, I have engaged in both theoretical and action research, ensuring a balance between scholarly contributions and practical outcomes. My published work includes contributions to international journals, books, and conference proceedings, reflecting a strong academic footprint. I have also played an active role in policy dialogues, contributing evidence-based recommendations to inform agricultural and rural development strategies.
Beyond research, I bring expertise in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of development projects, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. I am proficient in statistical analysis tools such as SPSS, STATA, and R, which I have used extensively for econometric modeling, impact assessment, and data-driven policy analysis. These technical skills complement my field experience and enable me to generate robust, policy-relevant evidence.
A significant aspect of my work involves community engagement and capacity building, particularly with women livestock keepers in climate-vulnerable regions. I have worked on initiatives addressing the feminization of agriculture and livestock, highlighting the critical role of women in sustaining rural livelihoods amidst male migration and climate change challenges. My research and fieldwork emphasize gender-sensitive and climate-resilient approaches to agricultural development. In addition, I have experience in fundraising and stakeholder consultation, contributing to resource mobilization for projects and ensuring their sustainability.
Overall, my career reflects a commitment to applied research, institutional strengthening, and inclusive rural development. By integrating economic analysis, gender perspectives, and community-based approaches, I aim to continue contributing to policies and practices that improve livelihoods, promote equity, and foster resilience in the agriculture and livestock sectors.