Shivaji R. Salunke, has been working as Specialist in Agro- processing for past three decades & over. Agro - Processing is a vast field and involves a variety of processing technologies and unit operations. Applied engineering being main forte, he has given comprehensive consultancy for establishing agro- processing units including utilization of waste. He has been always keen on selecting appropriate technologies to be adopted for setting up the units.

Shivaji has great command over creating innovative business options in Agri processing , based on available raw material. He has an upper hand in making study reports & has done the same for both Central as well as State Government of India. A study on competitiveness of agro-processing sector with special reference to fall out of WTO regulations was prepared for the state of Maharashtra. Pioneering Suggestions and recommendation were made for improving the agro-sector competitiveness.

In post conflict region of Afghanistan, majority of farmers are poor, having scanty land holdings & some livestock. Being illiterate they were obviously cut off from the latest know how & developments. It was a herculean task to convince them for modern techniques & uplift their standard of living. Shivaji, has this amazing achievement to his credit. Shivaji has been instrumental in arresting villagers migration to cities vide his training programs conducted under entrepreneurship development, which has resulted in fetching good entrepreneurial opportunities.

Professional Track: Joined PADCO/ AECOM for its Alternative Development Project in North Afghanistan - Badakshan as Director, Natural Resource Manager. Responsibilities consists of setting up agro-input chain of stores, post harvest processing facilities, monitoring of sub-contractors for improving animal husbandry practices, demonstrating fattening of livestock, co-operatives strengthening, and traders association. Through feeding silage, feed concentrate and green fodder in feedlots for improving livestock. Assisting in adopting appropriate technologies for small scale production of fruits and cereal based production. Implemented farm store program that supports farmer's co-operatives for purchasing of modern farming, harvesting and processing techniques for improving yield and reducing wastage.

February 06 to September 2007, Working as Agro-Process Manager for Alternative Livelihood Program - South project for USAID funded project being implemented in Helmand, South Afghanistan by Chemonics International Inc. Washington DC. During 19 months tenure, prepared feasibility and market reports, scope of work for new projects, annual work plans, technical specifications for procurement contracts, fortnightly and quarterly reports. Shivaji was responsible for designing and implementing of Kandahar Orchard Project worth $ 5 million that assisted the farmers and traders of fresh and dried fruits for adding value and marketing of produce and products. Set up four mini-feed mills in operation in Kandahar and Helmand. Designing and monitoring of veterinary project that provides training for paravets, laboratory technicians and artificial insemination ($ 1.8 million) and set up mini-feed mills for livestock. Provide technical assistance to traders and farmers associations in exports of fresh and dried fruits exports. Prepared technical specifications for obtaining quotes of equipment for cumin processing, shrink pack, pomegranate grader, cold storage and packaging materials for various fresh and dried fruits products. Set up mini-feed mills for livestock and train the cooperative managers and private owners in operation and developing feed mixes. Advice farmers on setting up dairy units and rear cattle under hygienic conditions and with assistance of paravets trained under veterinary field units, provide veterinary health care. Preparing of feasibility reports and business plans for agro-based industries projects - dairy, cattle feed, fruits and vegetable processing, flour mill, edible oil extraction plant, etc.

2003 - 2005 Director Operations, (Part time), NHB Agro-Industries Pvt. Ltd, Goa and Independent Consultant, Agland Investment Inc., California, in Afghanistan for RAMP sub-contractor. Set up a cashew processing unit with value added products to be marketed as health snack food. Obtained loan for our unit and expanded the capacity four folds. Obtained loan for unit expansion (Rs. 20 million) and Rs. 40 million short term loan under warehousing loan facility from Commercial Bank. Supervised, develop and implement new processing techniques and packaging of cashew and cashew products and put the unit in commercial production. Also worked as a independent consultant during the same period for banks, consultancy and private firms.

2004 - 2005 : Tile: Post Harvest Consultant and Food Process Engineer (5 months) Intermittent Project: RAMP, Kabul and Kandahar, Afghanistan & India.

2004 Post harvest and marketing consultant, project for export of grapes in Afghanistan, Agland Investment Services Inc., Roots of Peace, USAID, Kabul, Afghanistan. Trained farmers and traders in quality management and post harvest technology for packaging and storage of grapes and backward integration. Lead Afghan trader delegation to India and provided first hand information on grape markets, packaging and cold chain, cultivation practices. Provided marketing support in India and feed back on grape quality, packaging, logistics difficulties, market demand and requirements, interaction with Indian Traders and consumers. Provided recommendations to improve problems faced during transport through cold chain, and suggested improvements in grading and packaging methods for grapes. Exposure of traders and farmers to appropriate technology for converting grapes into raisins which would assist them to reduce drying cycles and capital costs was an important part of tour. Prepared a Manual for Selection of Packaging System for Almonds and suggested various packaging methods for almond in accordance to market requirement in India and UAE.

1997 - 2003 Independent Consultant: Provided consultancy to the Prime US contractor of USAID funded project, Government of India and Maharashtra provincial government.

Assignments included:

Agri-Business Advisor, Agriculture Commercialization & Enterprise (ACE) Project, USAID. Report on Public and private participation for infrastructure development and cold chain in Maharashtra. Prepared feasibility report for setting up of cold storage project for state warehousing corporation during ACE project. Associate Consultant to MITCON for various projects in dairy and agro-processing sector. Provided technical consultancy for export of mangoes from Maharashtra to European countries.

Consultant, Maharashtra State Government. Organized the event "Agro-Advantage Maharashtra" an international seminar in 1999. Projects and sectors profile preparation for various agro-industries and made presentation at international convention held at Mumbai where nearly 500 participants from all over the country and consul of different countries participated. Preparation of report for industrial growth centers in the state of Maharashtra. Recent reports for Revival of grape pre-cooling and cold storage industries and Status and Trends of Food Processing Industry in Maharashtra (Ministry of Food Processing). Regional Development Plans for Government of Maharashtra in horticulture sector. Policy and strategies to provide boost to agro-processing industry. (1998-2001).

Guided a team of market and WTO experts for preparation of report for central banking institutions for WTO implications in India for various agriculture commodities and products. Report highlighted competitiveness of agriculture produce/products produced in India and possibilities of processing for value addition and market in various countries. Recommendations and suggestions were made to over come various production and processing bottle necks.

1993 – 1997 : Local Coordinator, ACE Project, Chemonics International, (USAID funded project). Technical assistance to existing units and new entrepreneurs was provided that intended to venture into Agro-sector by adopting innovative technologies. Technical assistance was provided to grape exporters in Maharashtra for setting up of post harvest processing units and assistance in organizing training programs for workers. To suggest and identify innovative technologies for processing of fruits and vegetables based on market report and horticulture and floriculture crops. Technical inputs provided for formulating training program for Indian entrepreneurs at University of California, Davis, USA. This course was specifically designed for training bankers, entrepreneurs and consultants to understand Post Harvest handling practices and processing of Tropical fruit and vegetables. Two international conferences were conducted in collaboration with FINTRAC, USA / DAI a sub-contractor to Chemonics of ACE project. One conference was on "Success stories in Fruit and Vegetable Exports" and second on "Natural Products". Technical input and information provided to experts from USA for preparing strategic plans for public private participation in starting up cold storages including controlled atmosphere for oranges and apples.

Four years : Title : Local Coordinator. (Full time employed for USA firm Chemonics International Inc. on behalf of MITCON Ltd.)
( 1993 – 1997 ) Project Name: Agriculture Commercialization and Enterprise Project.
Location: Pune (initially for Maharashtra) / New Delhi
Operation Region: All India

1984 – 1997 : Chief Consultant, Maharashtra Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organization Ltd. (MITCON). Advised potential investors right from identification of project with backward and forward integration for setting up agro-industrial project. Preparation and Appraisal of market and techno-economic feasibility reports for clients in private, corporate and co-operative sector. Conduct market surveys for food and industrial products. In-plant services for improving production, quality of products and cutting down costs through better plant layout and addition of few equipments to over come bottle- necks for soft drinks, fruit and vegetable, sugar cane processing and meat processing plant, bakery units, etc. Preparing and appraising feasibility study project techno-financial analysis due to long standing experience.

Technical and financial presentation to the Board of Director of cooperative societies, companies, ICICI Bank, Industrial Development Bank of India, State co-operative and nationalized bank. Some of the Feasibility Studies conducted were: Post harvest processing and cold storage of grapes and fruits and vegetables, dairy units, and milk processing, Edible Oil processing complex, Fruit and vegetable processing, Cold storage complex, In-plant consultancy for fruit and vegetable processing unit. Market survey reports were made for various agriculture commodities and processed products in joint effort with market expert consultant and team of field surveyors.

1983 - 1984 : Weikfeild Products Ltd. as Chief Engineer of an instant food factory. Introduced concept of preventive maintenance, thus cut down in break down time, which was as high as 35% to 15%. Modified existing filling and packaging machine for very viscous in nature caramel liquid.

Personal : Indian citizen. Date of Birth: October 12th 1952.

Success stories of Shivaji are across Globe, especially in : Germany, France, Greater Britain, USA, Former Russia (Moscow), and Afghanistan on assignments as developmental projects in post conflict areas, purchase of machinery, market survey, collaborations, etc.