BIOGRAPHY – Mr.FIROZ POONAWALLA.

Firoz Poonawalla did his schooling in the esteemed St.Vincent’s and later at N.M Wadia College in Pune. Mr.Poonawalla has also attended Business Management course at Stanford - USA.

Mr.Poonawalla’s forte is QUALITY. He has worked as Chief Inspector, Quality Control Manager And Quality Assurance Manager.

He started a Furniture manufacturing factory in MIDC. He has put up a Wood Seasoning Plant the very first time in Pune.

He is now an Agriculturist and a farmer.

Mr. Poonawalla put up a High Tech Floriculture Farm growing Dutch variety long stemmed Roses in 1996 called FILA ROZIL EXPORTS in Kamshet. Fila Rozil is the first unit in the world with an ISO 9002 certification for a Rose Farm. Yet again in 1999 Fila Rozil started a Quality Circle movement with the entire grass root as well as Staff participation.

Mr. Poonawalla was the Director of Quality Circle Forum of India.

Mr. Poonawalla is also Chairperson of Quality Circle Excellence Centre. This is the only institution of its kind in the world which teaches grass root workers and farmers the Quality of Life. The by-product of this teaching results in continuous improvement of quality of our products and the services we offer.

He is a member of the Agriculture Wing of MCCIA. Mr.Poonawalla is also a member on the Board of Studies of Masters Program in Agribusiness Management - Symbiosis Institute of International Business

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Mr.Poonawalla continuously and aggressively champions the cause of farmers in all forums. He is representing strongly through News Media & TV, and makes personal representation to the Government of Maharashtra, Centre and State Governments and the Agriculture Ministry. He is appointed as a member of the National Horticulture Mission.

Mr.Poonawalla has received several awards for his untiring efforts as well as yeomen service in Agriculture Mr.Poonawalla was voted the Model Industrialist by the Bharat Shramik Sena for the year 2001. He was also conferred with the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award.

He has been given the following Awards:

Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for outstanding services and achievement in Agriculture.
Arc of Excellence award with Gold medal
Model Industrialist award by Bharat Shramik Sena
Pune’s Pride award for Excellence in Corporate World, initiated by Residency Clue – Pune.
Rashtriya Samman Award and a gold Medal.
Mother Teresa Excellence Award
Noble Son of India Award
Rashtriya Nirman Gold Award & Gold Medal.

Besides “Roses”, which is synonymous with this name “Firoz”, he has also got Oil extracted and passed through quality checks in Europe. For the first time again the oils of curry leaves, turmeric, Calamus and Ginger has been accepted for perfumery, though these herbal plants are basically used in culinary.

Mr.Poonawalla is now engaged in the activity of forming a cluster of farmers coming together and cultivating their land to supply various Indian flowers and tropical plants to EU, with a buy back guarantee.

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Previously EU countries were sourcing Agri products from Polland, but now with Poland having joined EU and the minimum Wage Act being applicable to Polland also, it is no longer a viable proposition for outsourcing. This in turn has opened a wide spectra of opportunity for India to become the Hub of Agriculture in the world.

European outsourcing of Plants, Seeds, Spices and Herbs from India is a great possibility. Mr.Poonawalla is exploring this possibility with farmers. It is evident that Our Indian Farmers can grow any thing well with correct guidance and scientific methods and inputs adopted and this is a potential that is largely untapped. For all their efforts the Indian Farmer has little to show in terms of Quality of life. Mr.Poonawalla endeavours to unleash this potential to meet this huge international demand of Agri Product Outsourcing.

Mr.Poonawalla travels extensively through India and abroad to garner better technology and get a good deal for the Indian Farmers.