Agroecology and Integrated Farming System

Sukanta Kumar Sarangi obtained a BSc Agriculture (1995) with a first position and Gold Medal from Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar; MSc Agronomy (1998) with first rank and University Gold Medal from OUAT, Bhubaneswar; and Ph.D. (2003) from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Dr. Sarangi worked with Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (1999-2000) on conservation, utilization and enhancement of rice biodiversity. Served as Scientist (2003-2008) at ICAR-Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region, Meghalaya; Senior Scientist (2008-2014); and Principal Scientist (2014-2023) at ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, West Bengal. Currently he heads the Division of Agricultural Technologies for Women at ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

In his research on farming systems in hill and coastal regions, Dr Sarangi has developed resource conservation technologies for cropping systems intensification, including: a cost-effective, water-productive improved package of practices for cultivation of diverse crops; salt-tolerant varieties; integrated nutrient management practices; conservation agricultural practices; and technology for enhancing income and nutritional security of smallholder farmers. He has established strong research collaborations with several countries including Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Nepal.

He has been made a Fellow of the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA), Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research (ISCAR), the Association of Rice Research Workers (ARRW) and Honorary Fellow of Pragati International Scientific Research Federation (PISRF). He currently serves as the editor of the Indian Journal of Agronomy and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research.

Rajeeb Kumar Mohanty was born in 1969 in Balasore district of Odisha. He holds an MSc in Fisheries Management (ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai), a PhD in Aquaculture and a DSc in Environmental Science. He joined the Agricultural Research Service of ICAR and started his professional career as a scientist in 1997; presently, he is Principal Scientist (Aquaculture) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Mohanty has made an outstanding research contribution to aquaculture water use efficiency, water budgeting, nutritional water productivity, water footprint, EIA, bioresource technology, compensatory growth performance of IMCs, run-off recycling aquaculture, self-reliant integrated aquaculture, multiple use management of various aquaculture production systems, periphyton-based carp-SIS polyculture and semi-intensive shrimp monoculture in improving aquaculture productivity, and the livelihood of small and marginal farmers.

Significant work done by Dr. Mohanty is reflected through the implementation of 17 research projects of national importance as project leader, more than 140 publications in reputed high-impact journals, 8 commercialized technologies, recipient of 7 national awards such as ICAR-Team Research Award (2001-2002 and 2003-2004), Vasantrao Naik Award (2001 and 2007), Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar (2005-2006), Dr Hiralal Chaudhuri Young Scientist Award (2003), BKJF-INCSW Team Award 2018, NESA Fellowship 2019 and NABS Fellowship 2020, as well as 5 other society awards. In addition, Dr Mohanty has guided the research work of two PhD scholars and eight MSc students in the fields of aquaculture, water management and wetland ecology.

Sukham Munikumar, born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated from the College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and later went on to complete his master's and doctoral degrees from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai. He did his post-doctoral fellowship research at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, and attended short-term courses at Ben Gurion University, Israel, and the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. He has diverse experience, having worked in the shrimp hatchery industry in Andhra Pradesh and participated in a deep-sea fishing project with CMLRE (Department of Ocean Development, Ministry of Earth Sciences). He started his teaching, research and extension career as Assistant Professor (Aquaculture) at the College of Fisheries, Agartala, Tripura. He has contributed to eight externally funded projects, including four projects as Principal Investigator. He has also worked as PI on two institutional projects as well as contributing as Co-PI to ten projects. He has served five PhD and 11 MFSc students as a major guide and has served as an Advisory Member for six PhD and 14 MFSc students. He has coordinated more than 80 skill development programmes of seven days' duration for more than 3,000 farmers during the last 14 years. He has published more than 60 research articles and 15 book chapters, including 10 manuals. He is a Fellow of the Zoological Society of India, Bodhgaya, India, and the Applied Zoologists Research Association (AZRA), Cuttack, Odisha. Currently he is working as Principal Scientist in the Aquaculture Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (Deemed University), Mumbai.

Jitendra Kumar Sundaray completed his PhD (Animal and Marine Bioresources Science) from Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, and is presently working as Head, Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar. He has served as Officer-in-Charge of the Kakdwip Research Centre of ICAR CIBA (2010-2013), Chennai. He completed his tenure (2013-2022) as Head, Division of Fish Genetics Biotechnology, ICAR-CIFA and as Director, ICAR-CIFA during 2017-2018. He is the pioneer team member of the first brackish water fish (seabass) breeding in India.

He has published more than 132 research publications in both national and international peer-reviewed journals. He has a total citation of 2,527 and H index of 24. He has completed 12 projects as Principal Investigator and headed two externally funded projects. He has completed a Center of Excellence project from DBT on the genetic improvement of Labeo catla.

He is a fellow of the Applied Zoologist Research Association, Zoological Society of India, Biotechnology Research Society of India, Inland Fisheries Society of India, Odisha Environmental Society and National Environmental Science Academy. He is the recipient of the young scientist award of AZRA, ZSI, and the Hiralal Choudhary Foundation, ICAR CIFE, Mumbai. He is the recipient of the Prof M. S. Swaminathan Best Fisheries Scientist for the year 2021 and Distinguished Scientist Award from the National Environmental Science Academy and Padma Shri (Dr) Ajaya Parida Life Time Achievement Award for the year 2023.

He has guided two post-doctorate, two PhD and 20 MSc students. He is one of the Vice Presidents of the Applied Zoologist Research Association and he is the associate editor of the Journal of the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research. He is the associate editor of Frontiers in Physiology and Frontiers in Molecular and Cellular Reproduction. He is leading a team on selective breeding and genetic improvement of carp species in India. He is currently involved in selective breeding and halogenomics.