Dr. Rajesh Kumar

Born at Varanasi, India on 25 February, 1974. Educated at CBSE, New Delhi (CSKM Public School, New Delhi, 1988-90; Queens Inter College, Varanasi, 1990-91; C. S. Azad University of Agril. & Tech., Kanpur, 1991-95; G. B. Pant University of Agril. &Tech. Pantnagar, 1995-97 (M. Sc. Vegetable Science); and Ph.D., 1997-1999.

Project Coordinator, All India Corrdinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops (AICRP-VC); ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi and Principal Scientist, IIVR.

Scientist, 1900-2008, IIVR, Varanasi; Sr. Scientist, 2008-2014, Principal Scientist, 2014-2023; Division of Vegetable Improvement, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi; Incharge PC Cell, AICRP (Vegetable Crops) 2020-2022.

Awards/Honours: Best Scientist (2022) ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi; Distinguished Scientist 2010, Society for Recent Development in Agriculture, Meerut; Harbhajan Singh Gold Medal Award 2015 and 2019 for best research papers; Appreciation certificate from the Director, ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi; Honorary Member, Advisory Board TOCIC (TePP Outreach cum Cluster Innovation Centre, Min. of Sci. & Tech., New Delhi), IIT-BHU, Varanasi and Expert Member (Horticulture), VBS Purvanchal Univ., Jaunpur, UP, 2018 -2020; Member, National Advisory Committee on Climate smart Agriculture, TIFAC, DST, New Delhi.

Fellow: Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences (UPAAS), Lucknow, 2017; Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences (IAHS), New Delhi, 2021; Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Varanasi, 2017.

• Breeding chillies, tomatoes, garden peas and Seed Science and Technology
• Plant Variety Protection
• Farmers’ Participatory Seed Production and planning and coordination of vegetable researfch through AICRP on Vegetable Crops across the country