Umesh N. R. is a fisheries professional, shrimp farmer, and social entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience advancing inclusive aquaculture. As the founding CEO of NaCSA (Government of India), he organized 16,000+ small-scale shrimp farmers into 750 clusters, pioneering community-based, science-driven shrimp farming. Through Aqua Saathi, he leads the development of data-driven Smart Clusters that empower farmers with collective action, digital tools and market connectivity—lowering production costs, expanding access to finance and insurance, strengthening resilience, and connecting farmers to premium markets for safe, traceable shrimp. His mission is to ensure that small-scale farmers are central to building a sustainable, transparent, and low-carbon aquaculture sector, with equitable access to innovation, markets, and economic opportunities.
