THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
As technology,
automation and evolving workplace expectations reshape the agribusiness and
development sectors, the need for future-ready talent and effective people
strategies has never been greater. Against this backdrop, the Human Resources
Conclave 2026, organised by the KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM), was
held at KIIT on Saturday, bringing together senior HR professionals, industry leaders,
academicians and students to deliberate on emerging workforce trends and the
role of human capital in driving sustainable growth.
The conclave was
organised around the theme, “People Strategies for Sustainable Future in
Agribusiness and Development Sector – Cultivating Talent, Harvesting Impact.”
Sachin Ramchandra
Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’
Empowerment, Government of Odisha, was the keynote speaker, while Kamlesh Shah,
Chairman and Managing Director, Listenlights, attended as the Guest of Honour.
The inaugural session also featured an address by Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty,
Registrar, KIIT University.
Addressing the
gathering, Sachin Jadhav emphasised the importance of continuous learning and
skill enhancement among students and young professionals to effectively
navigate the emerging challenges in agriculture and agribusiness. He observed
that rapid technological advancements and automation could replace human
intervention in several areas unless professionals continuously upgrade their
skills, knowledge and competencies.
Kamlesh Shah
highlighted the importance of building sustainable leadership in the
agribusiness and development sectors, describing it as one of the key
challenges confronting organisations today. He emphasised that the true
strength of an organisation lies in its people and the ability to nurture and
develop its human resources.
A key highlight of
the conclave was a panel discussion on “People Strategies for Sustainable
Future in Agribusiness and Development Sector – Cultivating Talent, Harvesting
Impact.” The session was moderated by Asis Patnaik, Senior Vice-President and
Head HR – Grocery, Reliance Retail.
The distinguished
panel comprised Tressa George, Vice-President, People & Culture, Rang De;
Dr Amit Raual, Group Chief People Officer, Listenlights; Namita Pandey, Chief
Human Resource Officer, SRIJAN; Dr Ranganath I V S, Head HR, Tropolite Foods;
and Raman Chidambarasubramanian, Head HR, IKF Finance. The discussion was
followed by an interactive question-and-answer session.
The panel deliberated
on a range of issues, including talent management, evolving HR practices,
leadership development and the future of work, with particular emphasis on the
changing workforce requirements of the agribusiness and development sectors.
The conclave concluded with an engaging student interaction session, providing students of Rural Management and Agribusiness Management at KSRM an opportunity to interact directly with the participating HR leaders and gain insights into industry expectations, career opportunities and the skills required to thrive in a rapidly changing professional landscape.
Prof. Sarbeswar Mohanty, Director, KSRM, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. Sukumar Dash, Dean, KSRM, proposed the vote of thanks.
