India’s Ethanol Feedstock Moment

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I currently head Procurement for a large grain-based ethanol manufacturing company, leading end-to-end sourcing of key feedstocks and critical inputs, including maize, broken rice, enzymes, yeast, bagasse, paddy husk, and coal on a pan-India basis.
I have worked extensively in agro-commodities and chemical inputs, supporting sectors including ethanol & distilleries, food processing, starch, and animal feed. I have over 23 years of expertise in procurement and supply chain management. In addition to feedstocks including maize, paddy, broken rice, wheat, and paddy husk, I also have experience with by-products like DDGS and DWGS (wet cake).
Core Expertise & Strengths
• Strategic procurement planning with a strong focus on cost optimization, quality assurance, and supply continuity
• Pan-India sourcing networks across key producing regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, and West Bengal
• Deep on-ground experience with APMC mandis, including spot purchasing and price discovery mechanisms
• Strong relationships with traders, brokers, and commission agents (Aadhatis) built over decades
• Expertise in direct procurement, broker-led trading, rake-load transactions, bilty-based deals, and structured trade models