Shri. Samir Somaiya graduated from Cornell University with a Masters in Chemical Engineering in 1992. He secured an MBA from Cornell University in 1993 and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University in 2005. He won the American Institute of Chemical Engineer’s Award for Scholastic Achievement in 1989 and the American Institute of Chemists Award in 1990.
He joined Godavari Biorefineries Ltd in 1993. He has taken the company forward through a focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability supported by research and innovation. Continuing the heritage of his father and grandfather, Shri. Samir Somaiya plays an active role in initiatives that improve the quality of life of the underprivileged sections of society. Under his guidance, the Somaiya Trust manages over 30 different educational institutions of learning extending from elementary to Ph. D. in diverse areas such as medicine, engineering, the arts and sciences, religion, vocational studies, education, languages, etc. There are over 35,000 students and 1,300 faculty. There is also a 500-bed urban teaching hospital, and a 40-bed rural hospital. The Trusts jointly run 8 schools, 6 of which are in rural Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Shri. Samir Somaiya is the President of Somaiya Vidyavihar; Chairman of K. J. Somaiya Trust, K. J. Somaiya Medical Trust, K. J. Somaiya Institute of Applied Agriculture Research, and The Girivanvasi Pragati Mandal.
As a Visiting Instructor in the School of Chemical Engineering at Cornell University, he combines his love for education and Chemistry. He has played an active role in the Sugar and Chemical Industry in India. From 2006- 2008, he was the Chairman (Western Region) of the Indian Chemical Council and the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association in 2009.
He is a Committee Member of the Green Chemistry Initiative, Constituted by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister; Advisory Board, School of Chemical Engineering, Cornell University, USA; Center for Indic Studies, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, USA and Council of Religious Leaders – Astana, Kazakhstan.
Mr. Raju Barwale is leading Mahyco, a well-known innovative seed company in India as Managing Director. The company is the flagship concern of the Barwale Group and was founded in 1964 by Dr. B. R. Barwale, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Indian seed industry. While Dr. Barwale laid a strong foundation for Mahyco with his visionary leadership, under the stewardship of Mr. Raju Barwale, the company expanded rapidly to reach and make a difference to the lives of over 10 million farming families out of an estimated 110 million farming families in the country, over last four decades of his association. Today, Mahyco enjoys the trust and confidence of its customers for quality and innovative seeds. Mr. Barwale has pioneered in bringing in the best of the technologies in seeds to Indian Agriculture. Thanks to his persuasive leadership, Mahyco introduced India's first Biotech crop Bt Cotton, in collaboration with Monsanto in 2002, helping the country to become the global leader in cotton production and exports. In keeping with the strong belief of the company in applying science and technology for resolution of challenges facing Indian Agriculture, Mr. Barwale has built a research and development facility of global standards with several innovative technology solutions being worked upon and which are in various phases of regulatory evaluation. Mr. Raju Barwale was one of the panelists at the 6th Asian Invitational Conference on Family Business, organized by Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. He presented key insights on “Challenges to Practicing High Quality Corporate Governance”.
Dr. Bakshi Ram is educated at Haryana Agricultural University, B.Sc. (Hons)Agri. 1981, M.Sc. (Agri.) 1983 and Ph.D. (Agri.) 1996. He served as Asst. Scientist (Wheat), CCS HAU, Hisar, 1984-86; Scientist, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, 1986-90; Scientist, Senior Scientist and Principal Scientist, ICAR-SBI, Regional Centre, Karnal, 1990-2009; Head, ICAR-SBI, Regional Centre, Karnal 2009-13; Director, UP Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur 2013-2014; Director, ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore 2014 to date.
He has been awarded and honoured with - Merit Gold Medal, B. Sc (Hons) Ag., 1981; Dr. Ram Dhan Singh Gold Medal, M.Sc. (Ag.) Plant Breeding, 1983; Eminent Agriculture Scientist Award (Indian Achievement Award-2005); Certificate of Appreciation (awarded on Republic Day, 2007); Noel Deerr Gold Medal Award, 2010; Certificate of Appreciation (awarded on Republic Day, 2012); Industry Excellence Award, 2013; STAI Silver Medal, 2014; Award of Excellence, 2016; Best Innovator of the Year 2016 (Agriculture); Reviewer Excellence Award, 2016; Best Achiever Award, 2016; Certificate of Appreciation by District Administration, Muzaffarnagar (UP), 2017; Noel Deerr Gold Medal Award, 2017, Development Leadership Award 2017; Noel Deerr Gold Medal Award, 2018; Felicitated/Honoured – by National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, Global Canesugar Services Pvt. Ltd., CCS HAU Alumni Association, Hisar, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and 14 sugar mills in North India, 2016-18; President, Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, 2015 to date; Councillor, Sugar Technologists’ Association of India 2018 to date.
He is Fellow of Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding; Sugar Technologists’ Association of India; National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The area occupied by CO 0238 sugarcane variety released by him has increased from 2.72 lakh ha (9.84%) during 2014-15 to 23.4 lakh ha (66.1%) during 2018-19 of the total sugarcane area in subtropical states. The variety was recommended in Uttar Pradesh during 2012 and since then it has increased to over 19.28 lakh hectares (69.02%) area during 2018-19. During the last five seasons, average cane yield and sugar recovery in Uttar Pradesh has increased to 80.5 t/ha and 11.46% from 61.6 t/ha and 9.18%, respectively during 2012-13, i.e. an increase of 18.9 t/ha and 2.28 units in cane yield and sugar recovery, respectively. Co 0238 and Co 86032 continued to be the predominant varieties during 2018-19 with about 66.1% and 47.3% area coverage in sub-tropical and tropical regions, respectively. For the first time in the history of the sugar industry in sub-tropical India, on-date sugar recovery of 14.01% was recorded by M/s Bajaj Hindustan Ltd., Bilai (UP) on April 3, 2019, with 96 % area under Co 0238.
In a further step to meet the varietal requirements of the country, the Sugarcane Breeding Institute under his stewardship has released and notified 8 varieties viz. Co 09004, Co 06022, Co 10026, Co 11015 (early maturing), Co 0212, Co 06034, Co 09022, and Co 12029 (midlate maturing) for commercial cultivation in Peninsular India.
Dr. J. V. Goud, a renowned cytogeneticist of the country, was the first Vice-chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad from 1986-1989. He completed his B.Sc. (Agri.) with first rank from Karnatak University, Dharwad and M. Sc (Agri.) from the College of Agriculture, Dharwad, U.A.S. Bengaluru in the year 1960. He obtained his Ph.D. from IARI, New Delhi under the guidance of Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in 1966.
He started his career as lecturer in Agricultural Botany at College of Agriculture, Dharwad during 1961-1963. He has served the University in various capacities as Assistant Cytogeneticist (1962-1969), Sorghum Breeder (1969-1971), Plant Breeder (1971-1973). He then became the Professor & Head of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding in 1973, the position which he occupied till 1986. He guided more than 50 M. Sc. (Agri.) and 25 Ph. D students who are currently heading various National Institutes and Research Organizations within and outside the country. He has published more than 500 research papers in national and international journals of high repute. He has contributed to the release of improved varieties in rice, tobacco, chilli, sorghum and bajra. Besides, he has also published more than 100 popular articles and authored 5 books on Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agriculture and Rural development. Dr. Goud is a member of many scientific bodies, professional societies and research organizations. He served as the member of advisory council for ICRISAT, Patancheru. During his service he has visited several countries like USA, Canada, many European countries, Japan for scientific exchanges and presented research papers in International conferences/symposia.
Dr. J.V. Goud became the first Vice-chancellor of the UAS, Dharwad and laid a strong foundation for the university with his administrative skills and majestic personality. Under his leadership, UAS, Dharwad got many prestigious awards in the field of Agricultural Sciences namely “Hooker Award” from ICAR, National Productivity Award by President of India and Cash prize award by Governor of Karnataka.
Dr. S.W. Mensinkai Research and Education Foundation, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad honoured Dr. J. V. Goud with Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for the outstanding contributions in the field of Genetics, Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding, and overall service for the growth and development of agriculture in the country.
Dr. J.H. Kulkarni has done his B.Sc. (Agri.) from College of Agriculture, Dharwad and M.Sc. (Agri.) and Ph. D in Agricultural Microbiology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. During his 38 years of service, he has served as the Vice Chancellor at University of Agricultural Sciences (U.A.S.), Dharwad (2006-2009); D.I.(Agri) U.A.S. Dharwad (2002-2006); Professor of Agricultural Microbiology U.A.S. Dharwad (1992-2002); Associate Professor at National Academy Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad (1991-1992); Senior Scientist National Centre for Groundnut, Junagadh (1981-1991); Scientist S-1 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore and at Central Mango Research Station, Lucknow (1978-1981). He has guided 17 M.Sc. (Agri) and 7 Ph.D. students. He has published 159 Research papers, 6 books and 4 Training Manuals and has presented 300 papers in the Seminars and Conferences. He has Developed fermentation technology for preparation of wine and vinegar from mango and has worked on Nitrogen fixation in groundnut; Host x Microbe x Environment relationship. He has been awarded with Certificate of Honour (2004) from NRCG, ICAR, Junagadh.
As the Vice Chancellor of U.A.S. Dharwad, he has established two new Horticultural colleges at Bidar (2007) and Bagalkot (2008), new Extension Education Unit at Gadag; new seed processing units at Mundagod, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bheemarayanagudi, Raichur and Gangavati and started Agro Forestry Research Station at Malagi. FM Radio Station at UAS Dharwad was setup, first of its kind in SAUs. He has visited McGill University, Manitoba University and Queens University, Canada (2007), Texas A&M University and Purdue University in USA (2007), Rahuna University Colombo, Sri Lanka (2012). He has served/serving as Chairman/Member in several academic bodies. Presently a member of National Accreditation Board of ICAR, New Delhi; Member of Search Committee of National Professors and National fellows; Regional advisor for accreditation of Southern Agricultural Universities; Chairman of Research advisory committee of groundnut and Pulses and QRT Chairman for National Bureau of Agricultural Insects Resources, Bangalore.
Dr. Hapase obtained B.Sc. Agri (Hons.) 1962, Pune Univ. and M.Sc. Agri.1965, Pune University and PhD. Plant Physiology, 1975 from Penn State University, USA.
He is the Director of Dr. D.G. Hapase & Associates (DGHA) - Agriculture Consultancy and Founder Director Dnyansheel Foundation concerned with R&D in Agriculture. Since 1994 he is providing consultancy/advisory services in cane production and management. Helping Sugar Industry in Peninsular Zone covering North India, Nepal and Fiji to achieve higher sustainable cane yields per acreage with improved returns to farmers and focus on continuous soil fertility improvement. Dr. Hapase is Member, Sugar Technology Mission (STM) Advisory Committee, Government of India, since Oct. 1993. He is member of Advisory Board for Sugarcane Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) since February 2007. He has served as Director of Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) India’s premier sugarcane research Institute and as Chairman, Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), ICAR, Coimbatore.
He has a work experience of around 50 years. Has published five Books (Marathi 4, English 1); 227 Research papers and more than 400 Popular Articles. Since 1994, he is associated with Dnyansheel Foundation (Founder Director) which is involved in R&D in Agriculture, especially sugarcane production improvement; Director, Dr. D.G. Hapase & Associates (DGHA) - Agric. Consultancy; and Ikshu Agri Solutions, Pune. He was a member of team formulated by “Sugar Technology Mission” for study of Sugar Industry in Fiji and suggest remedial measures to improve its efficiency. The report was accepted by STM and Govt. of Fiji. He served as The Director, Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) Manjri, Pune for 8 years, from1986-1994. He served as Chief Agronomist and Head, Agriculture Science and Technology Division, Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune for 2 years from 1984-1986; and as Sugarcane specialist, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Central Sugarcane Research Station (CSRS) Padegaon, P.O. Nira, District Satara, Maharashtra for eight years from 1976-1984): concurrently worked as Zonal Co-coordinator, Peninsular Zone, All-India Coordinated Research Project on Sugarcane AICRP (S),ICAR, New Delhi. He was Founder Director, Ex- Chairman and Director of Rajashree Shahu Co-op Bank, Pune from July 1985 to June 2004; Founder Chairman, Central Sugarcane Research Station’s employees Co-op Credit Society, Padegaon, Maharashtra (1976-84); Founder Chairman, Vasantdada Sugar Institute’s Employees Co-op Credit Society (1986-1993); Charter Vice President, Lions Club of Pune Aundh-Pashan, Now Director. He was a member of International Professional Associations/ Societies: International Society of Sugarcane Technologists 1985 to 1995; American Society of Agril. Engineers 1985-1995;American Society of Sugarcane Technologists 1985-1995; Water pollution Control Federation, Alexandra, USA (1985-95); South American Sugar Technologists Association, Durban 1985-1995;Associate member of world Sugar Res. Organization, UK 1985-1995; American Society for Cell Biology Maryland, USA (1985-95); American Society for Plant Physiologists 1971-75; American Society for Crop-Science 1971-75; American Society for Agronomy 1971-75.
He has received several Awards: Best scientist award by Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Dist: Ahamadnagar, Maharashtra, India. (1980); Madhya Pradesh Ganna Techniki Sangh, Bhopal. ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ (1991); Plaque of Appreciation by “Inter-America Sugarcane Seminars: Sugarcane and Our Environment” Miami, Florida, 1993; “Life time achievement award” by Deccan Sugar Technologists Association India, 2014; “Life time achievement award” by Sugar Technologists Association of India” 2007; “Maratha Bhushan Puraskar 2018” By Akhil Maratha Federation & Maratha Businessman Forum; “Purushottam Award 2018” by Sahakar Maharshi P. K. Anna Patil Foundation Dhule; “Late Vilasdada Kore Krushi Tantradnya Puraskar” by Tatyasaheb Kore Warana S. S. K. Ltd. Warananagar, 2018; “Krushi Abhiman Puraskar, 2019” by Agriculture College Pune, Alumni Association
Prof. Udipi Shrinivasa has done his B.Tech. (1969), M.Tech. (1971) from IIT Madras and Ph. D (1976) from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He is a former Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
His areas of interest and expertise in Mechanical Engineering are Vibration analysis, Finite element analysis, Design optimization, Alternative fuels and Sustainable development of rural areas. Dr. Shrinivasa is the unassuming leader of few words with an unassailable conviction. He was actively engaged in SuTRA (Sustainable Transformation of Rural Areas) programme of the Indian Institute of Science.
His thrust has been to use non-edible oils to ignite a process of rural enrichment. He prepared a Master Plan and executed a Honge Oil programme in 7 villages around Kagganahalli, funded (Rs. 278 Lakhs) by Karnataka’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Dept. He served as one of the Honorary advisors for the 15-Cr India’s first Biodiesel project of Southern Online Biotechnologies Ltd., Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. K. A. Kulkarni has done his B. Sc. (Agri.) 1967, M. Sc. (Agri.) 1969 (Ent), Ph. D. (Ent). 1989, Gold Medal. He has 36 years of experience and has served as Instructor in Ag. Entomology (1970-1972) at College of Agriculture Dharwad; Asst. Entomologist (Sorghum) from 1972-1983 at MRS, UAS, Dharwad; Assoc. Prof. of Ag. Entomology from 1983-1993 at College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad; Professor of Ag. Entomology from 1993 at College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad; Professor and Head, Dept. of Agri. Entomology 2000-2004, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad; Registrar, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad from 2004-2006. He is a Fellow of Entomological society of India, New Delhi, Member Selection Committee of ASRB New Delhi, Member on RAC of Sorghum, NRCS, Hyderabad, Vice President Society for Bio-control advancement, Bangalore (2001-2003). He has been awarded UASD Gold Medal (1989), Scientist of the Year-2002 by NESA New Delhi (2003), Rishi- Economic Entomology by SEPSD, Varanasi (2003) and Fellow award from Applied Zoologists Research Association, Odisha (2020). He has published 288 Research Papers/Articles, 11 Books and 80 Popular articles and 60 Radio talks. He has guided 27 M.Sc. (Agri.) and 12 Ph. D Students. He has implemented 8 externally funded research projects with an outlay of Rs. 131 Lakhs.
He has contributed to the Farming Community by developing Integrated Pest Management Programme for the Pests on Sorghum, Cotton, Groundnut, Safflower, Sunflower, Pigeonpea, Chickpea and chilli; Mass Production Techniques for NPV of Helicoverpa, Spodoptera and Mythimna; Mass Production Techniques for Trichogramma and Zygogramma and Contributed for the release of high yielding varieties of sorghum as Entomologist.
He has participated in The International Sorghum Workshop at Texas A and M University USA (84), Presented a paper on sorghum ear head midge and served as a rapporteur for one of the sessions and attended 30 National level workshops.
Dr. V.C. Patil obtained his B.Sc. (Agri.) in 1973, M.Sc. (Agri.) in agronomy in 1975, Ph. D in Agronomy in 1980 with a Gold Medal, from The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He went to University of Oxford, United Kingdom, as a Visiting Scientist under the Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship during the academic year 1984-85. He has a passion to develop and promote Smart Farming.
He is currently serving as The Director of K.J. Somaiya Institute of Applied Agricultural Research, Sameerwadi (http://kiaar.org.in). He served as The Chair Professor in Precision Agriculture Research Chair, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2010-2014. He worked as The Dean of College of Agriculture and Special Officer (Technical) at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur, India (2008-2010). He served UAS, Dharwad, India, in various capacities: The Head of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences (2006-08); briefly as The Director of Instruction (Post Graduate Studies) in 2008; Professor and Head of the Department of Agronomy (2001-2008); Professor of Agronomy (1994-2001); Associate Professor of Agronomy (1986-1994). He served as Assistant Professor of Agronomy (1982-84), in Hebbal campus and as an Instructor in Agronomy (1980-82) at Dharwad campus of UAS, Bangalore.
He has mentored and guided 24 M.Sc. (Agri.) and 8 Ph. D students for their degrees in the field of Agronomy. Dr. Patil has implemented 17 externally funded research projects and published 104 research papers in peer reviewed journals. He has published several papers in the area of Precision irrigation, fertigation and water productivity mapping. He is a Fellow of The Indian Society of Agronomy. He has presented 44 papers in International Conferences and 18 papers in National Conferences. He has visited USA, Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Thailand, and Malaysia, to participate in International Conferences.
He is the founder President of The Indian Society of Agricultural Information Technology (INSAIT) (http://insait.in) and Vice president of Institute for Studies on Agriculture and Rural development (ISARD) (http://isard.in). He served as the President of The Asian Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture (AFITA), Tokyo, Japan, from 2006-2008 and Vice President from 2002 to 2006. He is an Honorary Board member of AFITA. He has organized two International Conferences and five National Conferences.
He was one of the CO-PIs of the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP), a Consortium project of The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), led by ICRISAT, with IIT, Mumbai, IIT, Kanpur, IIIT, Trivandrum, NAARM, Hyderabad and G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, as collaborating partners. The project “Redesigning the farmer extension-agricultural research/education continuum in India with ICT mediated knowledge management”, won Jury’s award as the Best ICT initiative in Agriculture at the e-India Conference, Hyderabad and e-World Forum conference in New Delhi. The Agropedia and aAqua platforms of the project have played a pivotal role in the dissemination of agricultural knowledge in India.
As Precision Agriculture Chair Professor in King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he mobilized funds of One million US Dollars, and established State of the Art facilities for Precision Agriculture Research. Recently, a two-year collaborative project titled “Development of methods for in-season monitoring of sugarcane crop in Peninsular India using Earth Observations for precision water and nitrogen management” submitted by KIAAR, was funded by The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under India-Russia collaboration.
Dr. R.B. Khandagave has done his B.sc Agri, M.Sc. Agri and Ph.D. from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. He is currently serving as the Director of S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute (SNSI), Belagavi, since 2013. He has visited Australia (2001), Guatemala (2005), Thailand (2016) and Argentina (2019) to present papers in ISSCT. He has visited Kenya (2003), Brazil (2007) for Somaiya group, and Zambia (2011) for SP Group to survey Cane area feasibility for establishing Sugar Mills. Has attended a seminar on Sweet Sorghum at Nashville, U.S.A (2006).
In SNSI, he has started a three-year B.Sc. (Sugar Science and Technology) degree course first of its kind in the state, affiliated to Rani Chennamma University and has established a tissue culture laboratory. He has published 58 research papers, 32 popular articles, 3 books and 3 bulletins. Attained certificate of recognition for SNSI, Belagavi as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India. SNSI, Belagavi is recognized as one of the voluntary Centers for AICRP on Sugarcane. While serving at Godavari Bio-refinery Ltd., Sameerwadi, he has contributed to screening new varieties for the locality and taken lead role in adopting cane development activities including participatory approach by the farmers in adoption of new technologies in sugarcane. He is a member of the sub-committee for Grant-in-in aid for research project under Sugar Development Fund(SDF), constituted by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and PD,Government of India; Member of the Sugarcane Control Board constituted by the Government of Karnataka; technical committee constituted by the Sugarcane Control Board for assessing the revenue of sugar factories and providing suggestions to Sugarcane Control Board for fixing sugarcane price in Karnataka; Governing Council member of K.J. Somaiya Institute of Applied Agricultural Research, Sameerwadi; Governing Council member of Bharatiya Sugar Journal published from Pune.
