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Dr Dhananjaya bags Kalayya Krishnamurthy National Award for Best Agriculture Research
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Friday, 04 October, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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Dr Dhananjaya MV, Principal Scientist & Chief Executive Officer, BESST-HORT Incubation Centre, ICAR –IIHR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Horticulture Research) Bengaluru, received the Kalayya Krishnamurthy National Award for Best Agriculture Research, 2023. This was in recognition for his research contribution in crop improvement in horticulture.
The award was given away at the 59th Foundation Day of the University of Agricultural Sciences.
Dr Kalayya Krishnamurthy National Award was open to all the persons working in any Agricultural University or Government Department or Private or Public Institutions in India whose research or adoption of the new technology generated thereof during 10 years preceding the date of this notification has resulted in enhanced agricultural production and economic wellbeing of farmers.
On receiving the award, Dr Dhananjaya told FnB News that it was really a satisfying moment as the contributions of a scientist are identified and recognised.
On what factors led him to receive the award, Dr Dhananjaya said, “For the first time in the country identification of resistance source for a fungal disease Gummy Stem Blight a major production constraint for bottle gourd, watermelon and cucumber. Also, first set of Gummy Stem Blight resistant varieties in bottle gourd Arka Shreyas, Arka Ganga and Arka Nutan were developed and released for cultivation benefiting bottle gourd growers in the country. Within a year of its release the varieties have spread to more than 1,000 acre.
Being part of ICAR-IIHR, Dr Dhananjaya stated his career in ICAR-IIHR is armed with 26 years of service in horticulture research and extension. He developed five floriculture varieties and two vegetable crop varieties and formulated the DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) guidelines for carnation and crossandra.
He was conferred with the Fellow of the Society for Promotion of Horticulture in 2021-22 and Dr MH Marigowda National Endowment Award in 2022-23 for the Best Horticulture Research at Krishi Mela 2023 at UAS Bengaluru.
Noting that India is the second-largest producer of vegetables and fruits in the world, the country ranks first in the production of number of crops like Banana, Lime & Lemon, Papaya, Okra, Dr Dhananjaya said that this was because significant strides have been made in horticulture research in the country which has led to the production of horticulture crops beyond 350 million tonne surpassing agriculture production.
India is making efforts to involve youth in farm advisory, empowering them with knowledge through the creation of technology-led business models and providing value-added services to create employment opportunities for enhancing agricultural productivity. Capacity development of youth through informal and vocational training and creating awareness of new opportunities in agriculture, including secondary and speciality agriculture, attract youth into this field. Here Dr Dhananjaya, said, “Owing to huge demand for R&D experts in private sector and entrepreneurial opportunities, young scientists are attracted to carry out specialised research in horticulture.”
There are notable challenges to advance horticulture research further in India. These are excess production, lack of adequate processing and value addition infrastructure, marketing of fresh as well as value-added products, said Dr Dhananjaya.
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