Jitendra Kumar Sundaray Author & Editor

Dr. Sukanta Kumar Sarangi obtained B.Sc. Agri. (1995) with a first position and Gold Medal from Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar; M.Sc. 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) for conservation, utilization and enhancement of rice biodiversity. Served as Scientist (2003-08) at ICAR-Research Complex for 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 is heading the Division of Agricultural Technologies for Women at ICAR-Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

He has experiences of farming system research in hill and coastal region. He has developed resource conservation technologies for cropping systems intensification in the coastal and hill region. He has developed 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 homestead farming system for enhancing income and nutritional security of smallholder farmers. He has established strong research collaboration with several countries including Australia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Nepal.

He has been awarded with Fellow of the Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA), Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research (ISCAR) and Association of Rice Research Workers (ARRW). Presently he is serving as Editor of Indian Journal of Agronomy and Editor-in-Chief of Journal of the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research.

Dr. Rajeeb Kumar Mohanty was born on 1969 in Balasore district of Odisha. He holds a M.Sc. in Fisheries Management (ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai), Ph.D. in Aquaculture and D.Sc. in Environmental Science. He joined Agricultural Research Service of ICAR and started his professional career as a Scientist since 1997 and presently he is Principal Scientist (Aquaculture) at ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Mohanty has 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, semi-intensive shrimp monoculture in improving aquaculture productivity and livelihood of small and marginal farmers.

Significant works done by Dr. Mohanty is reflected through 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 SEVEN national awards such as ICAR-Team Research Award (2001-02 & 2003-04), Vasantrao Naik Award (2001 & 2007), Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar, (2005-06), Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri Young Scientist Award (2003), BKJF-INCSW Team Award- 2018, NESA Fellowship-2019 and NABS Fellowship-2020 and five other society awards. Besides, Dr. Mohanty has guided research work of 2 Ph.D. scholars and 8 M.Sc. students in the field of Aquaculture, water management and wetland ecology.

Dr. Sukham Munikumar, born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated from College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra and later went on to complete his master’s and doctoral degree from Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai. He had done his post-doctoral fellowship research at Curtin University, Perth, Australia and had attended short-term courses at Ben Gurion University, Israel and the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. He has diversified experience, having worked in the shrimp hatchery industry in Andhra Pradesh, and participated in a deep sea fishing project with CMLRE (Dept of Ocean Development, Ministry of Earth Science). He started his teaching, research and extension career as an Assistant Professor (Aquaculture) at the College of Fisheries, Agartala, Tripura. He has contributed to 8 externally funded projects, including 4 projects as Principal Investigator. He has also worked as PI in 2 Institutional projects apart from contributing as Co-PI in 10 projects. He has guided five PhD and 11 MFSc students as a major guide and has served as an Advisory Member for 6 PhD and 14 MFSc students. He has coordinated more than 80 skill development programmes of 7 day’s duration for more than 3000 farmers during the last 14 years. He has published more than 60 research articles, 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 a Principal Scientist in the Aquaculture Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education (Deemed University), Mumbai.

Dr. Jitendra Kumar Sundaray completed his Ph.D. (Animal and Marine Bioresources Science) from Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan presently working as Head, Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar. He has served as Officer in Charge of 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 2527 and H index of 24. He has completed 12 projects as Principal Investigator and heading 2 external funded projects. He has completed a Center of Excellence project from DBT on the genetic improvement of Labeo catla.

He is the fellow of 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 young scientist award of AZRA, ZSI and Hiralal Choudhary Foundation, ICAR CIFE, Mumbai. He is the recipient of Prof M S Swaminathan Best Fisheries Scientist of year 2021 and Distinguished Scientist Award from National Environmental Science Academy and Padma Shri (Dr) Ajaya Parida life time achievement Award in the year 2023.

He has guided two Post Doctorate, two Ph.D. and 20 M.Sc. students. He is one of the vice presidents of Applied Zoologist Research Association and he is the associate editor of 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 the team on selective breeding and genetic improvement of carp species in India. He is currently involved in selective breeding and halogenomics.