Blending Indian Farmers' Traditional Knowledge in Agriculture with Modern Scientific Technologies A Way Forward

Dr C L Acharya  did PhD with Gold Medal from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi in 1971 and PDF from IMG, Grenoble, France and INRA, Versailles, France, 1975-1977. He served Indian Council of Agricultural Research and SAUs from 1972 to 2005 in various capacities like Soil Physicist, Associate Professor, Chief Scientist, Head Department of Soil Science, Director Extension Education, and Director of ICAR- IISS, Bhopal. He is the Honorary member of Indian Society of Soil Science (2024) and has received several awards including 12th International Congress Commemoration Award of ISSS in 1989, Hooker Award of IARI in 1993, ICAR- Hari Om Ashram Trust Award in1999 and Dr. N. S. Randhawa Memorial Award of NAAS for his scientific contributions. He has published 160 peer reviewed international/national publications. He is Fellow of many national scientific academies & societies (FNAAS, FISSS, FNASc, FISWM, FISNS); Member of Expert Working Group on Himalayan Eco- Development Research Programme (GOI); Member SAC of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development; Member Task Force, DST; Consultant (Soil Expert), Cambodia; Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal “Soil & Tillage Research”, Journal of the ISSS; and is currently in the Editorial Board of NAAS Journal “Agricultural Research”.

Dr R S Chaudhary  (PhD, ARS) graduated from CSKHPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India, with PhD honours in Soil Science. In 1993, he joined Agricultural Research Services in Indian Council of Agricultural Research as scientist and worked in various capacities as senior scientist, Principal scientist and is presently working as Head, Division of Soil Physics for last 12 years at ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal (MP) India. He has more than 75 peer reviewed publications in international and national journals apart from several books, book chapters, manuals, bulletins. He has received prestigious international “Doreen Mashler” Team Award 2006 from ICRISAT, 12th International Congress Commemoration Award of ISSS, 2022, Bharat Jyoti Award 2012, Reviewer Excellence Award 2016 and other National awards for his outstanding contributions in soil science. He has 34 years long experience of soil research right from Alfisols of north-western Himalayan region of India, through red lateritic soils of Eastern Ghat High land Zone, and Vertisols of Central, West and South India. He has been advisor to Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Ajmer, India; advisor to ASRB, New Delhi; and many other national assignments.

Dr. P Gurumurthy  (PhD) graduated from Agricultural College of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, India with 20 years of teaching and research and 5 years of experience in the University extension unit. He has taught many undergraduate and post graduate courses in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry. He has published nine books, forty-nine full length research articles in peer reviewed national and international journals. He is a member of professional societies such as ISSS, ISSSLUP and ISOSR. He is a recipient of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru national award 2002, ISSS- Best Doctoral research presentation award in 2001, State level Best University Teacher Award in 2019, Ugadipuraskaram awarded by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh in 2013 and state level Padmisri I.V. Subba Rao-Rytunestam foundation award in 2014 for his overall contributions in the field of Agricultural sciences, particularly in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry.

Dr. A Subba Rao  (PhD) graduated from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He has served in SAUs and ICAR from 1980 to 2014 in various capacities like Assistant Professor, Agril. College, Bapatla; Soil Scientist, Potash Research Institute of India, Gurgaon; Principal Scientist, Project Coordinator (STCR) and Director, Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal. He has received many awards/honours such as FAI Silver Jubilee Award of Excellence 1989 & 2008; PRII Award 1991; PPIC-FAI Award 1997; IPI-FAI Award 1998; IMPHOS - FAI Award 2003; TSI-FAI Award, 2006; Hari Om Ashram Award, 2008-09. He is a Fellow of Indian Society of Soil Science and FNAAS. He has published more than 180 peer reviewed international/national publications besides many books, book chapters, manuals, bulletins etc. in soil fertility, plant nutrition and crop production. He has been assigned various national assignments as expert, member and chairman of scientific pursuits.