Mandava Prabhakar Rao becomes new ISMA chief

Mandava Prabhakar Rao has taken over as President of Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), from Aditya Jhunjhunwala. Rao will be supported by ISMA Vice President Gautam Goel.

Rao is the scion of a reputed agricultural family from Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. An alumnus of Benares Hindu University, he achieved 1st rank in M.Sc (Agriculture).  Rao, who is the Group Chairman of NSL Group and NSL Sugars Ltd, Hyderabad, India (NSL), took over its reigns in 1982, and has nurtured and developed the NSL Group of companies, a conglomerate of businesses in Seeds, Textiles, Sugars, Infrastructure and Renewable power.

In his illustrious career so far, he has made several contributions in the development of cotton, sugarcane, rice, corn, vegetables amongst other significant achievements that have laid the foundation for a new era of collaboration and partnerships between Indian and Global MNCs, leading to industry growth and improvement of profitability to farmers.

Apart from managing diversified businesses, Rao has participated actively in various Industry Bodies, some of these being as Founder Member - National Seed Association of India (NSAI), and positions at ICAR National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board (NAEAB), FICCI – Andhra Pradesh State Council, CEO Clubs India, Hyderabad Chapter, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFR Authority), Committee on Agriculture, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Cotton Advisory Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Central Seed Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India, Board of International Seed Federation (ISF) representing India, Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, and Central Seed Certification Board, Govt. of India, Andhra Pradesh Seedsmen Association.

A widely travelled person, Rao has received many awards from National and International establishments. NSL Sugars Ltd., operates Units in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana with a combined capacity of 40,000 TCD, Cogen of 150 MWs and Distilleries of 500 KLPD.

Goel is the Managing Director of Dhampur Bio Organics Limited (DBO). Dhampur Bio Organics was demerged from Dhampur Sugar Mills wef April 01, 2021, and prior to the demerger he was the Managing Director of Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd. 

DBO owns and operates three sugar manufacturing units with a combined capacity of about 30,000 TPD, in Uttar Pradesh and the group manufactures a variety of sugars, including raw and refined sugar, and has a special focus in producing high quality pharma grade sugar. DBO has a distillery capacity of over 300 KLPD and generates about 90 MW of renewable power. Gautam has over thirty years of experience in the sugar manufacturing business and has been directly responsible for various pioneering initiatives and achievements of the Dhampur Group. 

His initiatives resulted in Dhampur Group becoming one of the largest bio-mass based renewable energy producers in the country and under his leadership the Group implemented some of the most modern and efficient cogeneration plants to produce renewable energy. He was also responsible for conceptualizing and implementing the first refined sugar manufacturing process in India. 

Gautam is also a past President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) in 2012. He also served as the Chairman of Indian Sugar Exim Corporation (ISEC) in 2012.  Gautam is actively involved in the various CSR initiatives of the DBO which include running schools in rural Uttar Pradesh where the students are provided a smart class enabled environment with latest AV technologies and tools to give a modernized education experience. In association with the PHD Rural Development Foundation preventive healthcare is promoted by organizing Free Mobile Health Camp Services. Women Empowerment is ensured through skill development in tailoring at the Sampoorna Training Centre. Gautam is also a keen sportsman and has played competitive squash while representing Delhi in the National Inter State Squash Championships and is now also an ardent golfer.

Indian Sugar Mills Association held its 89th Annual General Meeting in New Delhi, which was inaugurated by Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, according to an ISMA release.

Chopra in his address highlighted the crucial role of the sugar industry in India's energy transition and rural economy and emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and technological advancements to navigate the ever-evolving landscape. He not only reinforced his conviction in the leadership of the association so far but also assured of continued support to the industry, the release said.

Indian Sugar Mills Association used this auspicious day to announce its re-branding to Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and ISMA’s new President, Vice President, and several members outlined the vision and mission of the new entity.

As a forward-thinking initiative, ISMA recognizes the evolving landscape of the sugar industry and aims to proactively address the increasing significance of bio-energy in the country’s energy transition. With this transformation, ISMA will work to enhance sugarcane yield and area in a sustainable way to meet the increased demand for sugar, ethanol and other by-products to ultimately benefit all stakeholders, the farmers, consumers and the industry.