Considering the need for diversified expertise in helping agricultural R4D projects, and based on a careful analysis of strengths to address challenges in supporting R4D, GRSV has brought together a global panel of 20 experienced scientists for achieving its mission. These individuals are highly experienced in agricultural R4D in various capacities in different parts of the world.
Our Panel of Experts:
Dr Toby Hodgkin (British, Agrobiodiversity) worked with Bioversity International and is currently the Coordinator of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research. He was involved in establishing programs on forest genetic resources, socioeconomic aspects of conservation and use of genetic resources, and on-farm conservation. He also led the Global Partnership Program of Biodiversity International working with UNEP (UN Environment Program), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and CGIAR Centers.
Dr Mannava Sivakumar (Swiss, Climate Change), was former Director, Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch (CLPA) in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Weather and Climate Extremes Journal published by Elsevier, and a senior Consultant with World Bank and WMO. He is currently the Acting Secretary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the World Meteorological Organization, Geneva.,/span>
Mr Paul Quek (Malaysian, ICT), worked with Bioversity International for about two decades, has contributed to the innovative use of information technology and simplification of processes to enable participation of communities in biodiversity conservation. As a gifted innovator, along with the development and implementation of Cyber Plant Conservation, he developed several simple applications that increase the management and monitoring of project activities.
Dr VA Parthasarathy (Indian, Horticulture) was with ICAR for over three decades, and was formerly Director and Emeritus Scientist, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut, India. He is a well-known horticulture scientist, having worked on biodiversity, breeding and biotechnology of horticultural crops and has held key positions in India.
Dr PG Chengappa (Indian, Agriculture Economics) is one of the leading Agricultural Economists, specialized in Agricultural Marketing, Agri-Business, Trade and Policy. Dr Chengappa served as the Vice- Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru and is currently working as National Professor at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India.
Dr Farid Waliyar (French, Crop Protection) was formerly Director of ICRISAT’s West Africa Region. He has expertise in development of integrated disease management; development of safety measures for aflatoxin contamination and testing. He has over 30 years of experience in research and research management in West Africa and Asia.
Mr P Parthasarathy Rao (Indian, Socioeconomics) was formerly Assistant Program Director of Markets, Institutions and Policy Program at ICRISAT, India. He has more than 35 years of experience in the field of agriculture commodity markets and value chains, crop-livestock linkages, agricultural diversification and technology assessment.
Dr Andre Bationo (Burkina Faso, Soil Science) is the President of Action for Integrated Rural Development in Africa. Previously he was Director of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)-West Africa, and prior to that worked with the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute (TSBF).
Dr K Purnachandra Rao (Indian, Socioeconomics) specialized in research evaluation and impact assessment, agricultural policy analysis, agribusiness management, village and farm level economic analysis, technology assessment and adoption, value chain analysis, and economics of deprivation and farmer distress.
Dr Said Silim (Ugandan, Plant Breeding/Physiology) was formerly Director of ICRISAT’s Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Program based in Kenya. He has worked in Asia, but most of his work was on developing improved chickpea and pigeonpea varieties and enhancing the adoption and cultivation in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Sudan, and Uganda.
Dr (Mrs) Sheela Shetty (Indian, Human Nutrition) was formerly Dean (Home Science) at the Central Agricultural University, Meghalaya, India. She was earlier Dean (Home Science) at Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Madurai and Professor and Head (Food and Nutrition) at UAS, Bengaluru, India. She has more than 40 years of teaching, research and extension experience in the areas of Food Science and Nutrition.
Dr Paul Senghor (Senegalese, Plant Breeding) worked with Senegal national program, Africa Rice Centre, and FAO. He was Director of African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) in West Africa, and has worked closely with West African national programs; and currently working as Policy Consultant with USAID in West Africa.
Mr B Ramaswamy (Indian, ICT) was formerly the MD and CEO of Sonata Software Systems, Bengaluru, India. Originally an agriculture scientist, he has an MBA and worked in the for about two decades in seed and pesticide industry, and later diversified into ICT and Software Development.
Dr SK Reddy (USA, Agronomy) is specialized in extension/technology exchange and program management. He has nearly 35 years of experience in Africa through working with USAID in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Botswana, Ghana, Central Africa, and Zaire. He also served in Indonesia and Central and Eastern Europe.
Dr (Mrs) Pham Thi Voung (Vietnamese, Crop Protection) was formerly Director of the National Institute of Plant Protection (NIPP), Hanoi, Vietnam. She has more than 30 years of experience in working with pest and disease management, with special reference to integrated pest management (IPM). She has worked with ICRISAT and other international organizations in promoting IPM technologies in Vietnam.
Dr N Nagaraj(Indian, Socioeconomics) was formerly Professor and Head of Agriculture Economics at UAS, Bengaluru and Principal Economist at ICRISAT, India. He has >35 years of experience in production economics, natural resource economics, research evaluation and impact assessment, and also leadership in priority setting, baseline surveys and village level studies.
Dr DM Hegde (Indian, Agronomy) served as Director of Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, India from 1998 until his superannuation in 2011. His expertise extends from agronomy, soil fertility and water management, oilseeds, farming systems and research coordination and management. He has received many national awards and fellowships.
Dr Sharan Angadi (Indian, Genetics) was formerly Sr Vice President and Head of Asia-Pacific Program with Nunhems Seeds (part of Bayer Crop Science). His expertise includes genetics, biometrics, biotechnology and commercial plant breeding. He also has good knowledge in IPR, biosafety, biodiversity and regulatory aspects of biotechnology. He is a well-known and popular science writer in English and Kannada, and has been honoured by several professional organizations.
Dr N Yaduraju (Indian, Agronomist) was formerly National Coordinator of NAIP, India; and Director of Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, India. He specializes in resource management, weed science and has interest in ICT4D and has facilitated development and use of mobile phone-based technology for sharing knowledge with farmers. More recently, he is working as a Consultant for AgMOOCs, an online e-learning platform aimed at skills development and capacity building of farmers, students and professionals.
Dr Mruthyunjaya (Indian, Agriculture Economics) was National Director of National Agriculture Innovation Project (NAIP), until his retirement in 2009. Previously, he was Professor of Agricultural Economics at IARI; Director, NCAP, and ADG (Agriculture Economics and Policy) in ICAR, New Delhi, India. He was consultant to NIRD and NCAP; and Adviser to several state governments in India, and to Bangladesh and IFPRI. His expertise is in agriculture technology assessment and policy, agriculture research management and strategic planning.
Chief Editor:
Dr. D.R. Mohan Raj was formerly Senior Editor at ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India, and Senior Science Writer and Editor at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. Concurrently, he also held positions of managerial responsibility relating to scientific publications. He has been an academic and senior trainer, engaged for over three decades in teaching university students at all levels, and in supporting, guiding, and mentoring agricultural research scientists in their publication and presentation activities.