Ajay Kakra Associate Partner, Food and Agriculture

Key Highlights

Ajay Kakra brings over 25 years of seasoned experience in the agri-food and agribusiness domains. He has led advisory, banking, and investment-led engagements across more than 20 countries in Asia and Africa, with deep expertise spanning seeds, crop protection, fertilizers, commodities, perishables, cold chains, warehousing, and agri-centric investments including M&A, equity, and debt.

Leadership and Growth

Ajay heads the Food and Agriculture Advisory practice at Forvis Mazars India. He previously occupied senior leadership roles including Practice Leader & Director at PwC, Managing Partner at JU Agri Sciences Senior Vice President at Yes Bank, and key positions within ICICI Bank, Wockhardt, and Mahyco. Throughout his career, he has orchestrated large-scale transformation programs and growth strategies for clients in both public and private sectors.

Education

Ajay holds a PG diploma in Agri Business Management from the National Institute for Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, and a Bachelor in Agricultural from Rajasthan Agriculture University (RAU), Bikaner, Rajasthan

Sector and Client Experience

Ajay has overseen projects involving feasibility studies, evaluations, investment structuring, market entry strategies, and supply chain optimization. He has also done Direct investment in Agri food startup, SMEs and other similar companies.

He collaborates extensively across sectors:

• International & Multilateral Organizations: The World Bank, IFC, Asian Development Bank, Tanzania Gatsby Trust.
• Government & Public Sector: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), APEDA, various State Governments.
• Private Sector: Rallis India, Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL), Gujarat State Fertilizers, Krishi Rasayan, and numerous agri-input and food processing companies

Commitment to Excellence

At Forvis Mazars, Ajay is committed to building and strengthening the Food and Agribusiness Advisory practice by delivering innovative, impact-driven solutions for clients. He focuses on aligning global best practices with local market realities, driving sustainable growth, and creating long-term value for businesses, governments, and development partners. Through his leadership, he is dedicated to enhancing Mazars’ reputation as a trusted advisor in the food and agriculture sector, while fostering collaboration, innovation, and client success.