Dr. A.V. Bhavani Shankar, holding a PhD in Horticulture from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, has served NABARD in various capacities for 29 years and gained expertise in rural development and institutional leadership.  He served as faculty at Bankers’ Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow, handling developmental programmes and financing by Rural Financial Institutions.  He has functioned as Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, Vijayawada. 

With extensive experience in natural resource management, institutional development and strengthening rural cooperatives, Dr. Shankar is currently heading the Farm Sector Development Department at NABARD’s Head Office in Mumbai, driving innovative strategies for sustainable agricultural and rural growth.