National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Singh
FELLOW, ELECTED 2018

Born in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on 1 July 1961. B.Sc. 1981, Agra University, Agra; M.Sc. 1984 and Ph.D. 1988, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

Currently working as Program Leader, Crop Diversification and Genetics (CDG) Section and Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding) at International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, UAE from 15th Nov, 2018 to date.

Joined International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines as International Research Fellow (IRF) in Januaury 2005, and rose to the positions of Scientist in 2008, Senior Scientist-I in 2009 and Senior Scientist - II / Senior Rice Breeder in the division of Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology (PBGB) from 2011 until November 2018. Started career as Scientist S-1 (Plant Breeding) through ARS in Dec 1986 and scaled to various positions through Principal Scientist / Principal Rice Breeder (2006-2008), at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute Karnal under Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Awards/Honours: Fellow of Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research (ISCAR)-2018; IRRI Semi-Annual Team Awards (SATA) for Salinity Breeding Team-2013; LBSCFI PARRFI Research and Development Award-Research Category for MAGIC breeding strategy in rice- 2014; Recognition for the contribution for the development of `Basmati CSR30' rice variety and honour for outstanding service to the nation by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), DARE, Government of India - 2013; ICAR Hari Om Ashram National Agriculture Award 2001-02; Fellow, Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding (ISGPB)-1992; ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)-1985-86.

Research Areas: Rice Breeding for Salt (Problem soils) Tolerance; Crop Improvement for Marginal Environments

Address: Program Leader and Principal Scientist, Crop Diversification and Genetics, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, (ICBA), PO Box 14660, Al Ruwayyah 2, Academic City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ; [Tel: Off. +971 4 3361100 ext. 219; Cell: +971 56 1968966; Fax: +971 4 3361155; Email: r.singh@biosaline.org.ae; rksinghirri@gmail.com]