Dr S. D. Shikhamany joins as VC, APHU, Tadepalligudem (A.P.)
Born on 15 June1947 at Alampur village in Mahaboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, Dr S. D. Shikhamany completed his primary and higher secondary education at Alampur; obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad in 1968 and 1970, respectively; and Doctorate from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1983. He specialized in viticulture acquiring advanced training in viticulture from University of California, Davis, USA in 1985. He was deputed to Russia (1998), Brazil (1999), Thailand (2000) and China (2004) by Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India, to study viticulture and identify areas for research collaboration with them.
Dr. Shikhamany has association with horticultural research since three decades and with research management since a decade. His contributed greatly to development of production technologies for increasing and sustaining the productivity under adverse situations and quality improvement in grape, pineapple and guava, with major emphasis on quality for export of fresh grapes and wine.
Dr. Shikhamany was Indian Representative on Council of International Society for Horticultural Sciences, Belgium; FAO Lead Consultant in Nigeria; President, Society for Promotion of Horticulture, Bangalore; and Vice-President, Horticultural Society of India.
Dr Shikhamany taught a course in viticulture to PG students and also guided 4 PG students. He received Gold Medal for General Merit in Ph.D. from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (1984); Gold Medal from Andhra Pradesh Grape Growers’ Association (1992); a silver plaque from Maharashtra Grape Growers’ Association (1997); and Late Giridharilal Chadha Memorial Medal (1998) from Horticultural Society of India as recognition of his meritorious contributions to grape research. He published 85 research papers, 30 popular articles and 6 technical reports on grapes. He presented 43 papers at national and international seminars or symposia.
Dr Shikhamany was founder Director, National Research Centre for Grapes (ICAR), Pune; and Director, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. Currently he is Vice-Chancellor, Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh from 1 March, 2010.
Dr S. B Dandin joins as VC, UHS, Bagalkot
Dr S.B. Dandin joined as VC, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bangalkot on 20-April-2010. He was born on 1 June 1949 at Midakanatti village in Belgaum district, Karnataka. He did his B.Sc (Botany) in 1971; M.Sc. (Botany with Cytogenetics) in 1973; and Ph.D. (Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding) in 1977 from Karnataka University, Dharwad. Dr Dandin held many important positions at Central Silk Board, Bangalore and rose from the position of Senior Research Assistant (1977) to Director, CSR&TI, Mysore; Central Silk Board, Bangalore and Special Officer, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. He developed and released two high-yielding cardamom varieties; four improved, high-yielding mulberry varieties; and evolved three silkworm races. He guided 16 Ph.D. students, 3 still working. He is life member of 13 national or international organizations and fellow of five academic societies. He published 516 papers. He is working as member expert with advisory committees, task force, peer groups, and member editorial boards of 18 organizations.
Dr. Dandin visited many international organizations, such as Wageningen Agricultural University (Netherlands); University of France (France); South China Agricultural University, Regional Sericulture Training Centre for Asia, China National Institute of Sericultural Research, South -West Agricultural University (China); Sericulture Research Institute (Vietnam); Asian Institute of Technology and Kasaksat Agriculture University (Thailand); National Institute of Agro-biological Sciences, Kyoto, Japan; and Institute of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Futchi (Japan).
Dr Dandin received international and national awards like Louis Pasteur Award from International Sericulture Commission, Lyon, France (2008); World Intellectual Property Organization Award by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Rome(2005);National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, South Korea; Maxwell Lefroy Award from Governor of Assam (2008), Award of Excellence from Ministry of Textiles and Directorate of Sericulture, Government of Maharashtra, Title of Father of Bivoltine Sericulture of Tamil Nadu and Gold Medal from Sericulturists of Tamil Nadu; Best project award from Japan International Co-operation Agency, and many NRDC, New Delhi awards.