IFDC Annual Report 2014 | Page 9

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