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BRIEF BIO-DATA of

Dr. M. GANGADHARA NAYAK Principal Scientist (Hort.) & Director (Acting) ICAR-DIRECTORATE OF CASHEW RESEARCH

Darbe P.O., PUTTUR - 574202, D.K. Dist., Karnataka State Mobile No.: 91-9448457269

Phone No.: 08251-231530 (O), 236269 (R) Fax: 08251-234350

Email-ID: director.dcr@icar.gov.in, mgnayak20@yahoo.com

M. Gangadhara Nayak, born on 20th July 1959 at Mundakochi of Ariyadka Village in Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka State. Parants Late shri Vttala Nayak and late Smt. Kumuda were agriculturists ande were under small farmers category. EDUCATION: § Educated from Govt. Higher Primary School, Kavu, Sri Seetharaghava High School,

Pernaje, Govt. Junior College, Puttur, UAS, Bangalore and TNAU, Coimbatore.

§ B.Sc (Agri) and M.Sc (Agri) in Horticulture from UAS, Bangalore and Ph.D from TNAU, Coimbatore with gold medal (Dr. J.C. Anand Award of TNAU). Won 6 scientific awards and also many prizes in sports and cultural events. Won the Best Student of the Year award during 1976-77 in SSH school, Pernaje.

§ Secured National Merit Scholarship for PUC and Under Graduate studies for best performance in SSLC examinations.

§ Obtained Aspee Junior Fellowship for the Post Graduate studies in Horticulture.

§ Stood first in All India Examination held for ICAR Junior Fellowship in Nematology.

SPORTS: § Athletic Champion of GKVK college during 1986. Represented UAS, Bangalore in Volley

Ball in All India Intervarsity Tournaments (1984).

§ Represented GKVK college Kabbadi team (1984-85).

MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE: § Serving as Acting Director since 01-10-2016 onwards and also earlier served as Acting

Director during June-August, 2012.

§ Also discharged the duties of Project Co-ordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew during above period.

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RESEARCH / EXTENSION EXPERIENCE: § Has over 28 years of Research experience in cashew at ICAR-Directorate of Cashew

Research, Puttur.

§ Also served as Extension Guide under UAS, Bangalore at Virajpet Taluk in Kodagu for one year during 1987-88.

§ Served as Junior Liaison Officer in Coffee Board in Pulpally in Wynad district of Kerala during 1988-89.

MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECTS HANDLED IN CASHEW AS PROJECT LEADER: § Canopy Management Studies in Cashew.

§ Propagation and Rejuvenation Studies in Cashew.

§ Spacing and Density Trials in Cashew.

§ Growth Regulator Studies in Cashew.

§ Root Stock Studies in Cashew.

§ Collection, Conservation, Evaluation, Cataloguing and documentation of Cashew

Germplasm.

§ Varietal Improvement in Cashew.

§ Transfer of Technology Programmes in Cashew.

§ Implementation of Tribal Sub Plan. MAJOR RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS: § Development of Ultra density planting in cashew for first time in world with which 3-4

tonnes of cashew can be harvested over 720 kg/ha (National average) in traditional plantations.

§ Headed the germplasm research programme and collected over 70 accessions and evaluated over 200 accessions and conserved in National Cashew Field Gene Bank at Puttur.

§ Prepared and published two Catalogues of Cashew Germplasm No. 4 & 5.

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§ Setup and established cashew museum at DCR, Puttur.

§ Headed the PPV & FRA research project and prepared DUS guidelines for cashew.

§ Identified high yielding and bold nut type hybrid 130 and NRC 493 a selection which are under evaluation for release.

§ Standardised the technique of rejuvenation of senile cashew plants and orchards by limb pruning.

§ Involved in Standardising the commercialization of softwood grafting and nursery managemen techniquet in cashew.

§ Refined and standardised the technique of rejuvenation of orchards by top working.

§ Standardised the technique of hybridization in corinader by covering in cloth bags.

§ Technique of black bunch cover for the production of white to golden yellow coloured bananas was standardized.

§ Introduced and cultivated successfully the Paprica crop in Coimbatore region. EXPERIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION: § Served over 30 years in various capacities in transfer of technologies of cashew and

other horticulture crops viz., Banana, Coffee and other Vegetable crops and also in Rice.

§ Established more than 200 demonstration plots in farmer’s field throughout the country.

§ Helped thousands of cashew farmers in the country with the technical knowhow on cashew cultivation either by distribution of pamphlets, reply over phone calls, delivering lectures and advisory field visits.

§ Offered more than 10 consultancies on cashew cultivation to various development

departments and NGOs in the country.

§ Headed the Tribal Sub Plan programme for last 5 years and established 91 model orchards of cashew and helped more than 10,000 tribal farmers financially and with technical know how in various parts of the country.

§ As head of nursery, produced and supplied over 50 lakh cashew grafts of elite varieties to farmers and development agencies during last 25 years period.

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§ Recognized and honoured more than 30 cashew farmers during various occasions for their outstanding performances in cashew cultivation and processing. Out of these 10 were ladies and tribal farmers.

SERVICE IN REMOTE AREA

§ Served in E category locality classified by ICAR (NRCC, Experimental Station, Shantigodu) since 1990 onwards to 2010.

§ Served as Extension Guide in Ponnampet in Kogadu which is considered as a remote area by Govt. of Karnataka.

§ Served as Junior Liason Officer in Coffee Board in Pulpally of Wynad district which is considered as remote area and naxal affected place.

EXPOSURE VISIT: § Visited Russia as a part of exposure visit of Indian Scientists. Training under the

programme of exposure visit of Indian Scientists of F & G level to Russia (former USSR). 13-20 September, 2014.

§ Extensively travelled within the country for germplasm collection in all the seven states in NEH region, about 15 islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and also all other cashew growing parts of the country.

§ Personally visited the countries like Nepal, Myanmar & Bangladesh. PUBLICATIONS: § More than 100 publications of research, books, book chapters, technical and popular

articles, technical bulletins and pamplets were published. RADIO TALKS /TV SHOWS: § Delivered more than 30 Radio Talks which were broadcast on cashew and other

horticultural crops from AIR, Mangalore and Bangalore.

§ Delivered TV interviews and programmes (more than 20) which were telecast in DD Chandana, DD-1, E-TV and Survarna TV.

§ Cashew Ultra density planting is in ‘You tube’ and prepared 4 videos on cashew cultivation and 1 video about DCR, Puttur.

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§ Prepared documentary photo albums on cashew cultivation and related aspects.

§ Prepared and published popular articles in newspapers and local magazines in local languages.

AFFILIATION WITH PROFESSIONAL BODIES / MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

Position Year Organization / Society / Committee National /

State

Life Member 1995 Indian Society of Plantation Crops National

Life Member 2000 Horticultural Society of India, New Delhi

National

Life Member 2007 Society for Promotion of Horticulture, Bangalore

National

Life Member 2004 NEH Society for Horticulture, Dimapur, Nagaland

National

Life Member 2012 International Society for Noni International

Life Member 2005 Institute of Agricultural Technologist, Bangalore

National

Executive Councillor of ISPC

2011-12 Served as Executive Councillor of ISPC, Kasaragod

National

Member of Editorial Board

2013-14 Progressive Horticulture National

LANGUAGES KNOWN (READ / WRITE / SPEAK)

Language To read To write To speak

Konkani (mother tongue)

- - P

Kannada P P P

English P P P

Hindi P P P

Tulu - - P

Sanskrit P P -

Malayalam - - P

Tamil - - P

Kodava - - P

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ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES HELD: § Organizing Secretary for Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the DCR, Puttur during the year

2011.

§ Organizing Secretary of National Consultation on Cashew Production, Processing and Marketing held at DCR, Puttur during December 2011.

§ Organized 20 Annual Cashew Days under the capacity of Scientist-in-Charge, Extension.

§ Coordinated Innovative Farmers’ Meet and other farmers’ related meeting for last 20 years.

§ Organized 16 off Campus Thematic Campaigns on Cashew cultivation.

§ Organized 35 training programmes on various aspects of cashew cultivation and management.

§ Discharged additional duties of Farm Superintendent and Scientist-in-charge in Shantigodu and Kemminje campuses of DCR for more than 20 years.

RESPONSIBILITIES AT STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL: § Served as Member in National Nursery Recognition Committee for over 15 years.

§ Served as Member in District Committees of NHM and Pradhanmantri Fasal Bheema

Yojna.

§ Served as Secretary, RAC and IRC of DCR, Puttur.

§ Served as IMC member of CPCRI, Kasaragod.and DCR Puttur

§ Served in various selection committees of CPCRI and DCR, Puttur.

§ Recognized as Ph.D. guide by UAS, Dhaward, Bangalore and Mangalore University.

§ Served as Cashew Expert in many National committees and also Expert Advisor on Cashew.

§ Served as External examiner for M.Sc. & Ph.D. scholars of different universities such as UHS, Bagalkot, UAS, Bangalore, TNAU, Coimbatore and Mangalore University.

§ Served as Sector Officer (Sector No.7 of Puttur Assembly Constituency) in the General

Assembly elections of Karnataka State (March – May 2008).

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§ Served as Sector Officer (Sector No. 14 of Puttur Assembly Segment of Mangalore Loksabha Constituency) (Feb. 2009- May 2009) in the 2009 Loksabha elections in which the services rendered by me was appreciated by the Returning Officer and the External Observer of Election.

§ Served as Micro Observer at Mangalore Unit in the Election of Karnataka Upper House South East Graduate Constituency during the year 2012.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS:

Ultra Density Ultra density Hybrid-130 Cashew Nursery

Rejuvenation of senile

plants View of rejuvenated

orchard Bunch of hybrid-130 Cashew Nursery

Bold nut and big apple type Dwarf and compact type Purple mutant Training on cashew grafting

Demo field visit Awareness on cashew cultivationTribal Advise to tribal farmer Honouring tribal woman

Unripe white bananas (Black Bunch cover)

Cashew growth as affected by PBZ

Intercropping with vegetables Jungly caju

(M.G. Nayak)

Principal Scientist & Acting Director ICAR-DCR, Puttur