Sustainable Agriculture Management in Semi-Arid Climates

Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh is working as Vice-Chancellor of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. He has an experience of more than 35 years in the field of Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension. He served on various positions viz. Director ICAR-ATARI, Kanpur 2005 to 2014; Assistant Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, 2014; Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, 2014 to 2022; Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), (Additional Charge), ICAR, New Delhi, 2015-16; Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), (Additional Charge), ICAR, New Delhi; 2016-17; Director & Vice-Chancellor (Additional Charge), ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, 2017-20. Agriculture Commissioner, Govt. of India 2021- 22. Dr. Singh is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) and has got a number of awards and recognitions including the Swami Sahajanand Best Extension Scientist award of ICAR, a member of the Uttar Pradesh Farmer Commission and has published more than 150 research papers and articles in scientific journals. His major research and development work has been in the area of technology assessment, application and outreach through a large network of NAREES (National Agricultural Research and Education and Extension System). The conceptual framework and models like Farmer FIRST, ARYA (Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture), and work in the area of Climate resilient agriculture, Nutri-sensitive agriculture, Pulses and Oilseeds promotion, digital agriculture, landscape diagnostics, etc. 

Dr. Pavan Kumar is a distinguished academician and researcher specializing in Remote Sensing and Climate Change, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Wildlife Management, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences and has made impactful contributions to geospatial technology and environmental monitoring. Notably, he designed an IoT-based solar-powered automated drip irrigation system and developed innovative techniques for water resource management under national schemes like PMKSY-2. He received the Innovation Award from the Asian Association of Remote Sensing (China), the Young Scientist Award from the International Geographical Union (USA), and multiple national honors including the Prof. T.S. Murthy Award from IIT Kharagpur and accolades from the National Environmental Science Academy. Dr. Kumar has published over 70 research papers in reputed international journals and contributed to more than 15 books on diverse topics such as land use change, biodiversity conservation, forest ecosystem vulnerability, climate change impacts, and agricultural responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has led and contributed to several major research projects funded by SERB-DST, NABARD, and the Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh. His international exposure includes academic visits and fellowships in countries like Malaysia (2010), Indonesia (2013, 2025), Brazil (2015), China (2015, 2016), France (2016), The Netherland (2016), Italy (2017), USA (2017, 2018), Japan (2020), and Singapore (2023). Through fellowships by bodies like IOC/UNESCO, CLIVAR, ACAM, and WCRP, he has contributed to global dialogues on climate change and sustainable resource management. Dr. Kumar continues to blend technological innovation with ecological conservation, making valuable contributions to India’s environmental research and policy landscape.  

Dr. S. S. Singh served as the Director of Extension Education at Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, UP. Dr. Singh has experience of more than 18 years in the rank of Professor as Principal Scientist/ Head of Division/Director in ICAR/ Central Agricultural University. Dr. Singh underwent advance trainings in IACR Rothamsted, University of Reading, University of East Angelia, Cornel University and CIMMYT Mexico. Dr. Singh has handled 17 foreign / external funded projects on Natural Resource Management, Crop Management, livelihood Development and Crop Improvement funded by DFID, IFAD, USAID, BMGF, IRRI, CIMMYT, Ford Foundation and European Union. As Agronomist, he has contributed in development of five rice varieties which have been released by CVRC and Bihar SVRC and are suitable for aerobic drought prone, late direct seeding, contingency cropping and rainfed lowland conditions. He has worked in most of the agricultural extension projects like Lab to Land Programme (1986-188), Training & Visit Programme(1987-89), FSR/E (1992-96), TAR through IVLP (2001-04) and FLD on rice (1992-98) &Maize (2004-06) and NAIP III - IFS in Disadvantaged districts (2008-12). He has published more than 165 Research Papers, 6 books, 20 Book Chapters, 15 Technical Bulletins, 165 Papers in Proceedings/ symposium/ seminar, 60 Popular Articles and 40 Extension Folders. He has visited USA, UK, Australia, Mexico, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh and Nepal. He is recipient of Rajeev Gandhi GyanVigyan Award from Ministry of Home Affairs, FAI award, Senior Research Fellowship of ICAR, Excellent Team Research Award of ICAR in Social Science.