Sumedha Chaudhury
Ranchi, July 30
Eminent agricultural scientist Dr Himanshu Pathak has been appointed the new Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education-cum-Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He is currently working as the Director of the National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Maharashtra, and soil science, climate change and simulation modeling are his area of specialization.
Born in Purulia (WB) on February 2, 1965, Pathak had an early education in Purulia and Bankura. He obtained Ph.D. and M Sc in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi and B Sc (Ag) from BHU, Varanasi. Has post-doctorate experience from the University of Essex, UK, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMCR), Germany, and NAARM, Hyderabad.
Dr Pathak has also served as Director, National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Scientist, Senior Scientist, Professor, and Principal Scientist at IARI, New Delhi, Fellow, IMCR, Germany, Visiting Scientist, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, and CSIRO, Australia and participated in 70 international symposia/ conferences in 27 different countries. He has taught and guided M Sc and Ph.D. students since 1993 at IARI. Dr Pathak has to his credit over 200 research papers, 31 review papers, 12 books, 22 technical bulletins, 75 book chapters, and more than 12400 citations in international literature. Pathak has received awards and recognition from over 20 national and international organizations for his outstanding research contributions.
He has served as President of the Association of Rice Research Workers, Cuttack; Executive President of Society for Conservation of Nature, New Delhi and President of Agriculture and Forestry Science Section of Indian Science Congress Academy. Dr Pathak also worked as Editor of five leading research journals published in India and abroad.
ICAR, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Agriculture, GoI is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture, including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences, in the country. Ranchi-based Indian Institute of Natural Resins & Gums, Namkum, Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Garhkhatanga, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region Ranchi, Palandu, Hazaribag based Central Upland Rainfed Rice Research Station and IARI are part and parcel of ICAR.
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