Kiran Deshmukh | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh | Agricultural | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh | Agricultural | Assistant Professor of Entomology | Govt. College of Agriculture, Nandurbar | India

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh is an accomplished academic and researcher in the field of Agricultural Entomology. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Govt. College of Agriculture, Nandurbar, Dr. Deshmukh has established himself as a dedicated professional in insect pest management with a focus on sustainable agricultural practices. His work primarily revolves around understanding pest population dynamics, the influence of climatic conditions on pest incidence, and the development of eco-friendly management strategies for key agricultural pests. He has contributed significantly to scientific literature and is actively involved in capacity-building initiatives for students and farming communities alike. Dr. Deshmukh is recognized for his analytical approach, academic rigor, and commitment to interdisciplinary research that addresses real-world agricultural challenges.

Academic Profile:

Google Scholar

Education:

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology from Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. His doctoral research focused on the biology and fecundity of the pink bollworm on cotton under different environmental conditions. He pursued higher studies with a strong focus on entomological research and plant protection. Throughout his academic training, he developed expertise in pest biology, integrated pest management (IPM), and the application of biotechnological tools for sustainable agriculture. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his subsequent research contributions and teaching engagements.

Experience:

With an academic career rooted in teaching and research, Dr. Deshmukh is actively engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate instruction, academic mentorship, and field-based research. He has collaborated with state agricultural universities and worked alongside experts from related disciplines on multi-institutional projects addressing pest incidence patterns and their correlations with abiotic factors. His responsibilities also include conducting field demonstrations, farmer awareness programs, and contributing to extension education. In addition to his academic duties, he has played an active role in organizing departmental seminars and student development activities, fostering an environment of experiential learning and research-based inquiry.

Research Interest:

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh’s core research interests include the study of insect pest dynamics, biological and environmental interactions affecting pest populations, and eco-friendly pest control methods. His work focuses on major pests of cotton and sunflower, with particular attention to pink bollworm, sucking pests, and lepidopteran caterpillars. He investigates how weather factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns influence pest outbreaks, aiming to forecast pest behavior and develop predictive models for timely intervention. Additionally, he explores the efficacy of insecticides and biocontrol agents within integrated pest management frameworks. His interdisciplinary approach combines entomology, agrometeorology, and biotechnology, positioning him as a valuable contributor to modern crop protection research.

Awards:

Dr. Deshmukh has been acknowledged for his contributions to agricultural entomology through various academic platforms. His research has received recognition in conferences and departmental reviews, and he has been nominated for awards related to academic excellence and innovative research in pest management. His outreach initiatives with farming communities and involvement in sustainable agriculture programs further highlight his practical impact beyond the classroom and laboratory. He continues to contribute to research that has both scientific merit and societal relevance, making him a strong candidate for academic and professional recognitions.

Selected Publications:

  • Pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), a destructive pest of cotton: a review, 2023 – 7 citations

  • Influence of weather factors on population dynamics of lepidopteran pests of Bt cotton, 2023 – 4 citations

  • Influence of weather factors on population dynamics of major sucking pests of Bt cotton, 2024 – 2 citations

  • Morphometrics of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) on cotton as influenced by temperature, 2024 – 1 citation

Conclusion:

Dr. Kiran Deshmukh is a promising academic with a strong foundation in agricultural research and a clear focus on advancing sustainable pest management strategies. His commitment to scientific inquiry, academic excellence, and field-level engagement makes him a deserving candidate for recognition through this award. Through his teaching, collaborative research, and publication record, he continues to make meaningful contributions to both academic and farming communities. His future work is expected to further enhance integrated pest management practices and promote resilient agricultural systems in the face of evolving climatic challenges.

 

 

Shaghaf Kaukab | Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology | Young Scientist Award

Dr.Shaghaf Kaukab | Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology | Young Scientist Award

Scientist ICAR-CIPHET India

Shaghaf Kaukab is a dedicated scientist specializing in Agricultural Structures and Process Engineering at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. With over 4 years of scientific research experience and 7.5 years of academic research, she excels in food engineering and technology. Her expertise spans extrusion processing, drying technology, hermetic packaging, functional food product development, and the application of AI, machine learning, and deep learning in agriculture. Shaghaf has significantly contributed to storage and quality management of agricultural commodities, developing innovative solutions for pest control and storage losses.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Shaghaf Kaukab’s educational background is rooted in post-harvest technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Post Harvest Technology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, with an excellent grade (CGPA: 9.1/10.00) in 2019. Prior to that, she completed her M.Tech. in Post Harvest Engineering & Technology from the same institute, achieving a CGPA of 8.97/10.00 in 2016. Her rigorous academic training has equipped her with extensive knowledge and practical skills in her field.

Experience 💼

Shaghaf currently serves as a Scientist at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, focusing on Agricultural Structures & Process Engineering. Since January 2020, she has led projects on cold storage monitoring systems, maize cob drying systems, and AI-enabled robotic apple harvesters, among others. She collaborates with academic partners and mentors students, providing training and skill development for farmers and entrepreneurs. Her previous role at ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in Hyderabad involved developing agricultural development plans and modern information management techniques.

Research Interests 🔬

Shaghaf’s research interests lie in the application of new-age technologies like AI, ML, and DL in post-harvest agriculture. She focuses on mathematical modeling, image processing techniques (biospeckle, RGB, X-ray, hyperspectral imaging), and analysis of food properties including physical, thermal, mechanical, and micro-structural aspects. Her work aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of food process engineering through innovative technological solutions.

Honors and Awards 🏆

Shaghaf’s contributions have been recognized with several prestigious awards. She received the Best Presentation Award for her work on enhancing apple quality control using deep learning techniques at the 57th ISAE Annual Convention in 2023. She was also awarded the Bihar Gaurav Award by the State Government of Bihar in 2009, and the IARI Merit Medal for outstanding academic performance during 2014-2016. Her academic excellence is further highlighted by her top rankings in GATE, ICAR-JRF, and ICAR-SRF examinations.

Publications 📚

Shaghaf has authored numerous publications in reputed journals, contributing significantly to her field. Her notable works include:

  1. Improving Real-time Apple Fruit Detection: Depth and Multi-modal Information Fusions with Non-targeted Background Removal (2023) – Ecological Informatics
  2. Chickpea Temperature Profile Development and its Implication under Microwave Treatment (2023) – Biological Forum – An International Journal
  3. Osmotic Dehydration of Aloe-vera Gel Discs (2023) – Journal of AgriSearch
  4. Engineering Properties, Processing and Value Addition of Tamarind: A Review (2023) – IJBSM
  5. Study of engineering properties of selected vegetable seeds (2019) – Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  6. Technological Interventions for Convenient Rice Preparation (2017) – Agricultural Engineering Today
  7. Rice Quality Evaluation Techniques (2017) – Trends in Biosciences
  8. Evaluation of Shelf Stability of Reconstituted (Extruded) Rice Under Ambient Storage Condition (2017) – Trends in Biosciences