1: When Amit Roy first arrived at IFDC in 1978, he was
assigned leadership in research on specialty phosphates to
determine whether locally available phosphate rock could
be easily converted into usable and affordable phosphate
fertilizers. His work paved the way for IFDC’s current efforts
in these solutions.
2: In the early 2000s, Roy traveled to Afghanistan to see
IFDC’s work in developing the country’s fertilizer sector.
While walking through a project area, Roy noticed an elderly
refugee carrying a family rug. He hopped in to help and
encouraged those with him to do the same.
3: In the early 1980s, Roy and a team from IFDC traveled to
Niger to determine whether the country could produce its
own phosphate fertilizer. At the time, Niger imported all of
its fertilizer, resulting in unaffordable prices for farmers.
4: In 2011, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
awarded Roy with a Distinguished Alumnus Award, given
to alumni widely recognized as having accomplished
groundbreaking achievements.
5: “We cannot provide technology and skills to farmers
without first understanding their needs and the great amount
of knowledge they are willing to share,” said Roy in a recent
interview. Here, Dr. Roy speaks with agronomists in Togo to
further understand their knowledge and local needs.
6: UDP is improving the lives of millions of farmers. While
visiting Bangladesh, Roy observed UDP demonstrations and
spoke with farmers about how the technology changed their
lives.
7: Enhancing maize yields for poultry feed increased
profitability for poultry farmers in Kyrgyzstan. Roy visited
the fields of Tri-T Poultry, a poultry farm in the Issyk-Atinskiy
district of Chui oblast, to further understand how IFDC could
best help the farmers of that country.
“In all my years of
experience, some
people stand out for
their great qualities,
and Dr. Roy is one
of those people.
He is well known
for his intelligence,
work ethic, positive
attitude, teamwork
mentality, leadership
and diligence. But his
human quality is above
all. When Cyclone
Sidr hit Bangladesh
on November 15, 2007, I was conducting the first farmers’
training on UDP in a farmer’s homestead in Nandail upazila
of Mymensingh district. Early the next morning, I received a
phone call from Dr. Roy asking whether all IFDC staff were safe.
He called me several occasions after any incident took place
to enquire about the safety of IFDC staff. This is the Dr. Roy I
know, who always enquired about the welfare of his staff.”
– Ishrat Jahan
7 | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
“During the more than 15 years that I worked for IFDC, I got to
know Dr. Amit Roy as an inspiring, motivating and supporting
man. Starting in the mid-nineties when I was Director of IFDCAfrica in Lomé, Togo, Amit supported me in testing and applying
existing knowledge to accelerate rural development in sub-Saharan
Africa, and in giving more direct attention to farmers and their
organizations.
He inspired
me to combine
my knowledge
and experience
regarding
ISFM with
those of IFDC.
[Entrusting]
me the
implementation
of projects
in the heart
of Africa, he
accepted adding
agro-forestry
as a domain of
intervention
for IFDC. And
when a serious accident led to a hospital treatment for 7 months, he
contributed to my recovery by convincing me that I would be able to
again lead the IFDC work in Rwanda and the surrounding countries.
He kept my position open during my long stay in Europe. I consider
Dr. Roy being more than an effective CEO; he is a source of
inspiration and motivation.”
– Dr. Henk Breman