Choitresh Kumar Ganguly

Co-Founder, farmer, and resident at 'Timbaktu', a 32-acre agro-forest habitat and intentional  community  doing organic agriculture, using renewable energy and living sustainably.

Co-Founder-Director of the Timbaktu Collective, a grassroots NGO which implements thematic programmes including, but not limited to, organic agriculture, while working towards the  sustainable development of the resource-poor Anantapuramu District – www.timbaktu.org.

Promoter and CEO of the Dharani Farming and Marketing Cooperative Limited, a leading   farmer-owned and managed business enterprise in south India, which procures, processes and markets organic produce under the brand name 'Timbaktu Organic'. Dharani has a membership of 2,113 certified smallholder farmers who cultivate traditional, nutrient-rich millet crops, oil seeds and pulses across 10,568 acres – www.timbaktu-organic.org.

Networking:
  • Founding Member + Secretary - PGS (Participatory Guarantee Scheme) Organic India Council
  • Founding Board Member -  Slow Food India Network
  • Core Group Member – Vikalp Sangam, India
  • Core Group Member – Fair Climate Network
  • Member -  Bio-Dynamic Association of India
  • Member – Millet Network of India
  • Member – Urgenci International
  • Member – IFOAM - Organics International

Recognition:
  • ‘One World Award 2014’ presented by Rapunzel Naturkost GmbH and IFOAM;       
  • ‘Real Heroes 2013’ (Environment) presented by CNN-IBN;
  • ‘Couple of the Year Award - 2005’ presented by  the WEEK Magazine;
  • Ashoka Fellow (elected 1993); • Smile Fellow (elected 1991)

WORK            
Promoter | Chief Executive Officer
DHARANI FAM COOP LTD – April 2008 to present
  • CEO - September 2016 to present.   

Co-Founder | Chief Functionary | Director
THE TIMBAKTU COLLECTIVE - November 1990 to present
  • Chief Functionary – 2014 to present;
  • Director of the Collective's thematic programmes on organic agriculture, ecology, livelihoods and enterprise development; 
  • Responsible for leadership, visioning, policy, training, fundraising, and PME (Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation);
  • Representing the organisation in national and international forums;
  • Conceptualising and promoting producer-owned business enterprises

YOUNG INDIA PROJECT - April 1978 to October 1990
  • Chairperson (1984 to 1990);
  • Project Director / Trainer (1982-90);
  • Community Organiser / Trainer (1978-82);
  • Co-founder of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Labourers Unions.
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EDUCATION 
Bachelor of Commerce, Bangalore University, 1974-77