Pravesh Sharma: Know more about this IAS-turned Sabziwala

Pravesh Sharma, a 1982 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS resigned from IAS to begin a start-up named Sabziwala, a retail fruits and vegetables chain that promises delivery of quality fresh produce directly sourced from farmers to consumers. Beginning its operation from Delhi, the chain has been using push carts, street vendors, kirana and general stores, milk kiosks etc. to sell its products. Do you want to know more about this former director of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s PMO? Here are the 10 things to know about this IAS-turned Sabziwala:

1. Pravesh Sharma, 58, is a 1982 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS who took voluntary retirement to pursue his passion in agriculture. 

2. Between 2010 and 2015, he served as Managing Director of the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium under the Government of India. 

3. He also served as secretary, agriculture, in the government of Madhya Pradesh. 

4. Sharma also served as India Representative of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and was also a visiting fellow at Princeton University. 

5. Between 1999 and 2001, he served as a director in the Prime Minister’s Office. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister then. 

6. Earlier in 1998-99, he was a director in the department of coal at the Centre.  

7. The former officer also served as the Managing Director of MP State Agro Industries Development Corporation. 

8. He also serves as Adviser (Agriculture) to the industry body FICCI, the chief adviser to the Madhya Bharat Consortium of Farmer Producer Companies (MP) and also an independent director on the boards of DCM Shriram. 

9. Sharma did masters in history before getting into IAS. 

10. He hails from Delhi and now pursues his business from Delhi only.