ICAR-CENTRAL CITRUS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dr RAJ KUMAR SONKAR was born on 27th January, 1965 at village Bhalan (Ganj) Bahariyabad in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Sonkar obtained his early education from Udai Pratap College, Varanasi (U.P.) He did his B. Sc. (Agri.) in 1987 and M. Sc. (Agri.) Horticulture in first division in 1989 from Udai Pratap P.G. College, Varanasi and Ph.D. (Hort.) from Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur. He was the first merit holder in vegetable Science subject during M.Sc. (Agri.) Horticulture. He joined the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on 5th August, 1991 as Scientist (Horticulture) and served Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bangalore after an initial training on Agricultural Research and Management at National Academy of Agril. Rese. Management, Hyderabad. At present he is working as a Principal Scientist at the Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur. He worked on Post-Harvest Technology, covering the aspects like storage, maturity standards, packaging and transport of Nagpur orange, processing aspects like debittering of Nagpur orange juices, water conservation in citrus and Integrated management of Citrus nematode, Organic manuring in Nagpur mandarin and DUS project on citrus. Presently he is involved in the citrus rootstock studies, Nutrient management in Citrus nursery plants, Evaluation of citrus spp. on raised bed planting system and Study of physiological disorders in fruit growth and quality in citrus. Dr Sonkar is a life member of Horticultural Society of India, New Delhi; Society for promotion of Horticulture, Bangaluru and Indian Society of Citriculture, Nagpur. Nominated reviewer of the African Journal of Plant Science, Journal of Food Science & Technology, CFTRI, Mysore and International Journal of Agricultural Science Research (IJASR), Malasia. He has published about 150 publications at the National and International repute including research papers, book chapters, reviews, popular articles, extension folders and extension bulletins. He is a chief editor of Hindi magazine Santra Samvad. Dr Sonkar has received Dr Punjab Rao Deshmukh Krishi Ratna award-2011 by Bhartiya Krishak Samaj, New Delhi, Recieved ICAR award Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthy Krishi Patrika, Received First prize for Santra Samvad-2010-11 by Nagar Rajbhasha Karyanvanayan Samiti Nagpur, Received Vidarbha Bhushan Award-2012 from Yashwant Bharti Lokkalyan Sanstha, Nagpur, Maharashtra Bhushan-2013 by Lokranjan Kala Mandal, Nashik for out standing contribution in Agriculture and he is a Joint Secretary of Indian Society of Citriculture. Dr Sonkar attended various International and National Seminars / Symposium / Workshops etc.