Revappa Mohan Kumar | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar | Agronomy | Best Researcher Award

Scientist | University of Agricultural Sciences | India

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar is a dedicated Scientist in Agronomy at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences. With expertise in agronomy, agroecology, and natural resource management, he has established himself as a strong advocate of sustainable agricultural practices. His research emphasizes climate-resilient farming, crop productivity optimization, and ecosystem sustainability. Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar professional journey reflects a balance of teaching, research, and extension activities aimed at improving farming systems. His contribution to agronomic science has been recognized through several prestigious awards and publications, reflecting his commitment to advancing agricultural sustainability and farmer livelihood security.

Professional Profile

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Education

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar pursued his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agriculture and Agronomy from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, followed by a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. His academic journey was further enriched through multiple postgraduate diplomas including Rural Development from IGNOU, Intellectual Property Rights from Annamalai University, and Marketing Management from Annamalai University. These multidisciplinary qualifications have equipped him with comprehensive knowledge blending agricultural sciences, resource management, policy understanding, and rural development. His academic path highlights his commitment to expanding expertise beyond core agronomy, strengthening his holistic approach to solving agricultural and ecological challenges.

Experience

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar professional career began as a Research Associate at Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, where he contributed significantly to agronomy research. Currently, he serves as Scientist in Agronomy at the Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Bengaluru, under the University of Agricultural Sciences. His role involves research, extension, and technology dissemination in areas such as crop nutrition, sustainable land-use systems, invasive species management, and carbon footprint reduction. With extensive years of academic and field-based research, he has been instrumental in implementing innovative agronomic strategies and bridging scientific research with farmer-oriented agricultural practices.

Research Interests

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar research interests lie in agronomy, agroecology, and natural resource management, with a special focus on enhancing crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. His work explores integrated nutrient management, energy-efficient crop systems, biocontrol strategies, and carbon footprint reduction in rainfed agriculture. He is particularly engaged in optimizing castor-based cropping systems, evaluating forage land-use practices, and studying the impact of mineral nutrition and biopriming on crop performance. By adopting a systems-based approach, his research aims to build climate resilience, improve soil health, and promote eco-friendly farming practices to ensure long-term sustainability in semi-arid agricultural regions.

Awards

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar has been honored with several awards that acknowledge his excellence in agronomic research and technology dissemination. His accolades include multiple Best Oral Presentation Awards from national and international conferences, highlighting innovative studies on crop productivity, sex expression in castor, and forage land-use systems. He has received the prestigious Prof. B.V. Venkatarao Best Scientific Article Award, Young Scientist Award, and multiple recognitions for excellence in research and technology demonstrations at Krishimelas. His awards also include merit-based recognitions for externally funded projects. These honors reflect his outstanding contribution to sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and community-focused agronomic innovations.

Top Noted Publications

Title: Sustainable Management of Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda
Year: 2022
Cited by: 98

Title: Integrated farming system approaches to achieve food and nutritional security for enhancing profitability, employment, and climate resilience in India
Year: 2022
Cited by: 86

Title: Integrated nutrient management for improving crop yields, soil properties, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Year: 2023
Cited by: 72

Title: Effect of single-cross hybrids, plant population and fertility levels on productivity and economics of maize (Zea mays)
Year: 2015
Cited by: 34

Title: Influence of balanced nutrition on productivity, economics and nutrient uptake of hybrid maize (Zea mays)–chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cropping sequence under irrigated ecosystem
Year: 2016
Cited by: 27

Conclusion

Dr. Revappa Mohan Kumar achievements in agronomy and sustainable farming systems clearly position him as a strong candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His impactful publications, recognized innovations, and dedication to eco-friendly agriculture highlight his commitment to advancing knowledge and solving real-world agricultural challenges. With his balance of scientific excellence, community engagement, and future potential for broader international influence, he embodies the qualities of an outstanding researcher whose contributions are making a meaningful difference in both science and society.

Esther Delphine Makamte Pegalepo | Plant Breeding | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Esther Delphine Makamte Pegalepo | Plant Breeding | Women Researcher Award

Africa Rice | Ivory Coast

Dr. Esther Delphine Makamte Pegalepo is a seasoned Cameroonian plant breeder and seed systems expert with over 15 years of experience. She currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Coordinator of the AfricaRice Breeding Task Force network, contributing to rice genetic improvement across 28 African nations. Passionate about sustainable agriculture, she has led seed system innovations, capacity-building programs, and variety evaluation initiatives. Her mission is to develop pesticide-free, high-yielding rice varieties suited to diverse African agro-ecologies. Dr. Pegalepo combines academic excellence with hands-on expertise in breeding, research coordination, and seed technology to ensure food security in Africa.

Professional Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Pegalepo earned her Ph.D. in Phylogenetic Resources and Crop Protection (2020) from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, with a thesis on Piper guineense-based biopesticides for rice protection. She holds two Master’s degrees: one in Seed Industry Seed Technology (2006), and another in Plant Biotechnology (2004), both from the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Natural Sciences (2001), following her high school graduation in Mathematics and Natural Sciences in 1997. Her education laid the groundwork for her strong research in plant protection and breeding innovation.

Experience

Dr. Pegalepo currently works at AfricaRice as a PDF Plant Breeder and Coordinator of the Breeding Task Force (BTF), leading capacity-building efforts and rice seed evaluation across 28 African countries. From 2014–2022, she supported breeding operations and seed systems, training women’s associations and partners across West Africa. Earlier, she served at AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center and EICD in Cameroon and Central African Republic, specializing in seed multiplication, vegetable seed systems, and community capacity development. Her responsibilities span varietal development, seed distribution, trial management, and partnership coordination.

Research Interests

Dr. Pegalepo’s research interests focus on plant breeding, seed systems, and ecofriendly pest-resistant rice varieties. Her work emphasizes biotic and abiotic stress resilience, varietal adaptability, and integration of genetic resources from AfricaRice’s genebank. She is involved in the AGGRi2 and B4T projects, which aim to accelerate genetic gain and varietal deployment. Through breeding programs, she supports the delivery of climate-smart, pesticide-free rice cultivars that improve yields, environmental sustainability, and food security across Africa’s diverse agro-climatic zones.

Awards

Dr. Pegalepo was honored as one of the hard-working contributors at AfricaRice in 2014. She has received extensive training in gender-responsive research (GREAT-IRRI, 2019), phytogenetic resource policies (ICARDA, 2017), seed pathology (AVRDC, Tanzania), and data management (AfricaRice). Her dedication to agricultural transformation is further reflected in her membership in the Excellence in Breeding (EIB) team and reviewer role with the European Scientific Journal (ESJ). These recognitions highlight her commitment to excellence in agricultural research and development.

Top Noted Publications

Title: Rice varietal selection using AMMI modeling
Year: 2025
Cited by: 5 articles

Title: Field evaluation for drought and heat adaptability
Year: 2025
Cited by: 4 articles

Title: Infochemical cues for Diopsis apicalis control
Year: 2025
Cited by: 3 articles

Title: Effet de la poudre de Piper guineense
Year: 2019

Title: Review on the use of black and red pepper
Year: 2018

Title: Genetic variation of NERICA and O. sativa
Year: 2018

Conclusion

Dr. Esther Pegalepo’s commitment to agricultural transformation, women empowerment, and climate-resilient rice breeding makes her a compelling candidate for the Women Research Award. Her leadership in pan-African agricultural networks, hands-on seed system development, and eco-friendly innovations position her as an impactful scientist advancing food security and sustainability. With further global engagement and academic dissemination, her contributions could gain even broader recognition.