Brief Introduction

Positions Held:

    Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

• National Professor (1997-2001)
  

• Deputy Director General (Hort.) (1987-1996)
  

• Director, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR), Bangalore (1980-1986)
  

• Project Coordinator (Fruits), and Head, Central Mango Research Station, Lucknow, (1972-1980)

    Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi

• Horticulture Commissioner (Ex. officio Joint Secretary)
  

• Executive Director, National orticulture Board, (1986-1988)

    Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

• Fruit Specialist (Senior Class I) (1964-1969)

Awarded:

• Dr. B.P. Pal Memorial Award, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2005) for overall contribution in agriculture

• D.Sc. (Honoris Causa), C.S. Azad University of Agri. & Tech., Kanpur (1995)

• Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), New Delhi (1991)

• Borlaug Award (1984), for Excellence in Agriculture Research

• Om Prakash Bhasin Award (1992), Life Sciences including Agriculture

• Dr. H.M. Marigowda Award (1996), for Best Horticultural Scientist

• S.S. Ranade Memorial Life Time Achievement Award (1999)

• Pisang Raja Award, Asia Pacific Network on Banana & Plantain, Philippines (1996) for contribution to Banana R#x0026;D

• S.K. Mitra Memorial Award, from All India Food Preservers Association (1998) for service to the Fruit & Vegetable Processing Industry

• Vasantrao Arve Memorial Award (1999), for Best Grape R & D Worker in India

Research Area: Development of F₁ hybrids, Hi-tech Horticulture e.g. Drip Irrigation, Protected Cultivation, Micro-propagation, High Density Planting and Quality improvement and post harvest management.

Contributions to Agri./Hort. literature: Made immense contributions to the knowledge pool in Agri./Hort. by authoring/editing 35 books/bulletins, 130 research, 175 popular articles, 35 chapters in books and over 4 dozen key note addresses.

His efforts and initiatives through influencing policies, programme and funding (increase from 25 crores in 7 plan to over 2000 crores in X plan) during more than 3 decades has not only catalyzed fast growth in horticulture but brought the sector to the national focus for its enormous potential in achieving food and nutritional security, employment generation, foreign exchange earnings besides improving incomes of small land holders. To-day, the country has woken up to realize its potential and is talking of horticulture as a tool to bring farmers prosperity.