Introduction
Dr Thanammal Ravichandran, a veterinarian and economist, has dedicated her career to livestock development, rural empowerment, and animal welfare. Her passion was ignited by a childhood experience when her family faced financial hardship due to an infectious disease outbreak in their buffaloes. She pursued veterinary studies at Madras Veterinary College and later specialized in rural development economics at the University of Hohenheim, Germany.
With over two decades of experience, she has worked with international organization including The Brooke (UK), International Livestock Research Institute, and International Fund for Agricultural Development, driving impactful projects in livestock value chains, gender inclusion, and digital innovations. Her PhD (2014-2018) on women-led dairy cooperatives highlighted their role in economic and social empowerment. She has played a pivotal role in improving dairy productivity in India through research, Information and Communication Technology interventions, and policy advocacy, influencing key initiatives like the Bihar Livestock Master Plan and AAVIN dairy cooperative strategies in Tamil Nadu.
Currently, she is actively engaged in the Tamil Nadu Climate-Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship initiative, aimed at improving the livelihoods of dairy farmers while fostering startups and business innovations among rural youth. Her work continues to bridge veterinary science, rural development, and sustainable agriculture, driving long-term impact on livestock productivity and community resilience.
Hobbies
Horse Riding, Nature Walk and Traveller
Strength
Team Building, Inter Disciplinary Approach, Goal Oriented, Fostering International Collaboration, Sustainable Livestock Value-chains and Women Empowerment
Vision
To contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities by fostering economic growth, environmental responsibility, and social well-being, with a strong focus on empowering women and enhancing their opportunities for a better future and future India as well.
Inspiration in life
I draw inspiration from donkeys-symbols of hard work, loyalty, and resilience. My teacher, Rajeev Melon, instilled in me the courage to be bold and move forward with confidence. These values are driving me every day.
Email
thanammal@kclas.ac.in
Research work in PhD
Comparison of institutional arrangements for inclusive dairy market development in India
Participation in Conference
- Thanammal Ravichandran 2024. International conference on “Innovative Education, Research and Extension approaches to augment livestock production” in TANUVAS-VCRI, Orathanadu organized by Society for Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension (SVAHE). From Kumaraguru institutions, “Digital innovations for Sustainable and Resilient Livestock production”
- Krithika Nallasamy., Shanthra Prakash., Arunkumar Krishnamoorthy., Thanammal Ravichandran Digital innovations to develop monitoring indicators for infertility issues in dairy animals. Tropentag 2024 September 11 – 13. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria
- Mohanamani Palanisamy., Thanammal Ravichandran., Poongodi Bhupathy Factors influencing youth in family farming: A study from southern India. Tropentag 2023 September 20 – 22, The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany in cooperation with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
- Thanammal Ravichandran., Digital innovation for enhancing dairy productivity. Tropentag 2022 September 14 – 16, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague.
- Ravichandran, T., Tuefel, N., Blummel, M. 2019. Impact of perennial forages on milk productivity and gender roles in Kareem Nagar district. International Animal Nutrition Conference, 16-18 Dec, Kolkata, India
- Ravichandran, T., Vinod, M., Tuefel, N., Blummel, M. 2019. Determinants of adoption for prennial forages in Kareem Nagar district. International Animal Nutrition Conference, 16-18 Dec, Kolkata, India
- Subedi, S., Cadilhon, J.J., Thanammal, R. and Teufel, N. 2014. Impact evaluation of innovation platforms to increase dairy production: A case from Uttarakhand, northern India. Presented at the 8th International Conference of Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE) on Viability of Small Farmers in Asia 2014, Saver, Bangladesh, 15-17 August 2014. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. Available: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/51586
- Ravichandran, T., Teufel, N., Duncan, A. 2014. Innovation platforms as a tool for small holder dairy development: a case from Uttarakhand, India. Tropentag 2014, 17-19 September 2014, Prague, Czech Republic
- Fritz, A., Ravichandran, T., Birner, R. 2014. Changed weather pattern and the impact on feed security for livestock. Tropentag 2014, 17-19 September 2014, Prague, Czech Republic
- Azeem, A., Zaman, S.F., Aravindan, M., Thanammal, S.R. 2010. A Study on the knowledge, attitude and practice of hobbling of equids in Meerut district, India. 6th International colloquium on the working equids. 30 Nov- 2nd Dec 2010, New Delhi, India.
- Ravichandran, T., Tuefel, N., Duncan, A., Maas, B., Likuyu, B. 2013. Enhanced dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through feed innovation and value chain development approaches. ILRI APM, 15-17 May 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (3rd price)
- Zaman, S.F., Aravindan, M., Thanammal, S.R., Roy, R.C., Childs, A., Eager, R.A. 2010. Risk factors for wither lesions in tourist riding mules of Gaurikund, Uttarakhand-India. 6th International colloquium on the working equids. 30 Nov- 2nd Dec 2010, New Delhi, India.
- Ravichandran, T., Teufel, N., Bl¨ummel, M., Markemann, A. and Z´arate, A.V. 2012. Can an Improved Dual Purpose Groundnut Cultivar Increase Milk Production in Crop-Livestock Systems in India? Tropentag 2012, 19-21 September 2012, University of Gottingen, Germany.
- Ravichandran, T., Teufel, N., Duncan, A. Site selection criteria for locating innovation platforms in a dairy development project. Tropentag 2013, 17-19 September 2013, University of Hohenheim, Germany.
- Ravichandran, T., Swamy, K., Blummel, M., Cadilhon, J., Colverson, K Reddy, Y.R. 2014. A gendered ssessment of Mulukanoor women dairy cooperative value chain, Telangana, India. ASAE 8th international conference on Viability of Small Farmers in Asia, 15-17 August 2014, Saver, Bangladesh.
Research and Publications
- Daum, T, Ravichandran, T, Karuiki, J., Chagunda, M., Birner, R. 2022. Connected cows and cyber chickens? Stocktaking and case studies of digital livestock tools in Kenya and India. Agricultural Systems 196 Available online on http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103353
- Lukuyu, B., Ravichandran, T., Maass, B, Lawasi, G, Duncan, A. 2015. Enhancing the livestock productivity through feed and feeding interventions in MilkIT project sites in India and Tanzania. ILRI working paper, Nairobi, Kenya
- Ravichandran, T., Teufel, N., Duncan, A.J. 2016. MilkIT Innovation Platform- Changing Women Live’s- One cow and one litre of milk at a time- Deep in the foothills of Indian Himalayan Mountains. IN:Dror, I., Cadhilhon, J.J., Schut, M., Misiko, M. And Maheshwari, S. 2016. Innovation platforms for agricultural development: Evaluating the mature innovation platforms landscape. UK:Routledge
- Ravichandran, T., Farmworth, C.R., Galie, A. 2021. Empowering women in dairy cooperatives in Bihar and Telangana, India: a gender and caste analysis. Journal of Agriculture Gender and Food Security, 6 (1), 27-42
- Ravichandran, T., Teufel, T., Capezzone, F., Birner, R and Duncan, A. 2020. Stimulating smallholder dairy market and livestock feed improvements through local innovation platforms in the Himalayan foothills of India. Food Policy, 95
- Thanammal Ravichandran, Ramesh Kumar Perumal, Kennady Vijayalakshmy, Zoe Raw, Fiona Cooke, Isabelle Baltenweck, Habibar Rahman. 2023. Means of Livelihood to Clean Environment to Women Empowerment: The Multi-faceted role of Donkeys. Animals, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/1927
- Mulema, A.A., Snyder, K.A., Ravichandran, T. and Becon, M. 2015. Addressing gender dynamics in innovation platforms. Innovation Platforms Practice Brief 14. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI
- Duncan, A., Teufel, N., Ravichandran, T, Hendrickx., Ballentyne, P. 2015. Innovation platforms to improve small holder dairying at scale: The MilkIT project in India and Tanzania. ILRI working paper, Nairobi, Kenya
- Ravichandran, T., Tuefel, N., Duncan, A., Maas, B., Likuyu, B. 2013. Enhanced dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through feed innovation and value chain development approaches. ILRI APM, 15-17 May 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (3rd price)
- T. 2020. Comparison of Farm Animal Welfare in Different Dairy Production Systems in India. Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences, 2 (1), 9-10
- Farnworth, C.R., Ravichandran, T. and Galiè, A. 2023. Empowering women across gender and caste in a women’s dairy cooperative in India. Frontiers Sustainable Food Systems.
- Ravichandran, T., Swamy, K., Blummel, M., Cadilhon, J., Colverson, K Reddy, Y.R. 2014. A gendered ssessment of Mulukanoor women dairy cooperative value chain, Telangana, India. ASAE 8th international conference on Viability of Small Farmers in Asia, 15-17 August 2014, Saver, Bangladesh.
Awards and Achievements
- Savitri Bhai Phule Achievement Award for Women Veterinarian, Pasudhan Praharee, Magazine, India, 2024
- IGSTC Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) 2022 award
- Dairy Asia Sustainability Award 2017 for case study competition “adoption of fodder chopper and feeding troughs to reduce fodder wastage” Conducted by FAO in Myanmar.
- CGIAR innovation platform case study competition winner award (second), 2015 for influencing the dairy production and policy through innovation platform approach
- GIZ-BEAF Young Scientist Promotion Award for Master research work in India 2011.
- Dill foundation scholarship award for Master course 2010-11, Germany.
- Best Horse Rider of the year- 1998
- Bronze Medal Winner – All India Republic Day national level Horse riding competition – New Delhi – 1998
- Republic Day Parade-Horse, New Delhi – 1998
- Senior under officer- National Cadet Corps – 1997
- “C” certificate with ‘A’ grade – National Cadet Corps – 1997
International Visit
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria – Tropentag Conference 2024
- Advanced Statistics course in applied survey data in Delhi during 2007 arranged by Nairobi University and Reading University, UK
- Basic statistics course and Analysis software training in Nairobi University, Kenya; University of Bristol, UK, 2006
- DAAD Alumni Summer School on “Tropical Agrobiodiversity as a Guarantor for Sustainable Food Security” in September 2012 at the University of Hohenheim
Training and Workshops
- Advanced Statistics course in applied survey data in Delhi during 2007 arranged by Nairobi University and Reading University, UK
- Basic statistics course and Analysis software training in Nairobi University, Kenya; University of Bristol, UK, 2006
- Extension and communication training arranged by Jamia Islamia University during 2003 and 2004
- Training in PRA arranged by STEM in Delhi in 2004, 2006, 2007
- Tropentag Conference, Germany 2010, 2011, 2013, 2013
- DAAD Alumni Summer School on “Tropical Agrobiodiversity as a Guarantor for Sustainable Food Security” in September 2012 at the University of Hohenheim
Projects and contributions in streams
Grant Received
As of now, total grant received: 2.6 Cr
| S.No |
Project |
Year |
Organization |
Amount |
| 1 |
Potential of Digital innovations for disease surveillance and monitoring for enhance dairy production |
2023 |
KRIA |
5 Lakh |
| 2 |
Potential of Digital innovation and its institutional dimensions to enhance dairy productivity in developing countries |
2022-2025 |
IGSTC WISER |
39 Lakh |
| 3 |
Tamil Nadu Dairy Landscape Study |
2023 |
Environmental Defense Fund |
46 Lakh |
| 4 |
Tamil Nadu Climate Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship |
2024-2026 |
Environmental Defense Fund |
1.7 Cr |
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