Dr. B. J. Pandian

Dr B. J. Pandian hails from Cuddalore district of Northern Tamil Nadu. He was born on 16th May, 1959 and completed his schooling in Cuddalore. He secured his Bachelors in Agriculture; Masters and Ph.D in Agronomy from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). He began the academic career at TNAU as Assistant Professor in 1983, became Associate Professor in 1997 and was promoted as Professor in 2000. He was one of the eminent faculties of Agronomy in TNAU and handled courses of undergraduate and postgraduate students for 35 years. During his career, he developed expertise in various crops namely rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses and oil seeds. He advanced several breakthrough technologies like System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for paddy and Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) for sugarcane.

The technologies developed by him are popular and widely practised by the Tamil Nadu farmers. He has generated funds through 33 research projects obtained from International, National, State and Private agencies. He served as the Nodal Officer of Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project (TN-IAMWARM) for 15 years which was his flagship project with a budget outlay of 173 crores funded by the World Bank. He was the key person in developing three varieties of Sugarcane and the chieftain in devising four policy documents related to SRI, SSI, 100% Micro Irrigation Subsidy, and Wasteland Development Project, Tamil Nadu. A great many International and National Seminars were organised with him being the chairman. He also served as the convenor for many seminars.

He has also coordinated numerous training sessions to the extension functionaries and the farming communities at both State and National level. He also served as the Chief Consultant to numerous International and National organizations. He has several National and International awards to his credit. He was identified as the Outstanding Extension Worker by the Government of Tamil Nadu. He was honoured by Rotary Club of Tirunelveli for his work on Wasteland Development. He received a Certificate for Recognition from the Vice-Chancellor, TNAU for his outstanding Yield Achievement of 10t/ha in Rice. He was the Director, Water Technology Centre (WTC), TNAU for six years. He has published 160 Research papers, 29 technical books, 14 subject books and 200 popular articles. He has visited Australia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Israel and Japan and utilised their best technologies for the benefit of the farmers of Tamil Nadu.

Accomplishments

Academic

Prof. B. J. Pandian is prominent among the students as an acclaimed Agronomy intellectual. He has tutored in Undergraduate Agronomy Courses for 14 years (full time) in AC & RI Madurai and Killikulam campuses. He also served as the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coordinator and Warden. He was the Head of the Department of Soil and Crops, AC&RI, Killikulam. He has guided thirteen Postgraduate and five Ph.D. students in the course of his tenure. He served as the Curriculum Development Member for syllabus revision. He introduced and formulated the syllabus for the course, Agricultural Heritage and was the resource person in framing curricula to both UG and PG students. He was in charge of preparing of e-learning materials and developing content for Distance Learning Course in Wasteland Development. He also prepared curricula and learning materials for the course, Advances in Irrigation Management. He has conducted a Certificate Course on Water Management with Central University, Tiruvarur. Besides, he has been external examiner for various state and national level exams.

Research

Prof. B.J. Pandian is one of the noteworthy researchers of Agronomy globally. He has obtained 33 research projects from International, National, State and privately funded agencies. He has brought about funds of more than 173 crores through various research grants. He was the Nodal Officer of the scheme of Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project (TN-IAMWARM) for 12 years and contributed immensely to the project. He has developed and standardized several technologies namely, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in paddy, Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) in sugarcane, drip fertigation schedule for hybrid maize, cultivation of sweet pepper and paprika cultivars under shade net in Tropical plains of Tamil Nadu, manually operated line Marker for pulses and oilseeds, Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) in Micro Irrigation, alternate land use system Silvipasture (Albizzia lebbeck + Cenchrus and Stylo) for sustaining wasteland of alfisol.

He was responsible for the release of 3 sugarcane varieties COC 90063 (1990), COC 91061 (1991) and COC 86249 (1998) which became popular among sugar mills of Tamil Nadu then. Prof. B. J. Pandian has prepared key policy documents for the State government of Tamil Nadu. He formulated guidelines for the promotion and implementation of 100 per cent subsidy for the state in Micro Irrigation. The guidelines are being used at present for implementing subsidy program. He also formulated guidelines for the promotion of micro-irrigation in command areas under PMKSY, Government of India. He was the leading figure responsible for wider adoption of System of Rice Intensification in the state. His guidelines on policies to be adopted for Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative in Tamil Nadu help farmers even today. Also, he has framed guidelines for implementing the Comprehensive Wasteland Development Program for the state involving local communities.

Outreach

Dr B. J. Pandian during his successful tenure has organized several capacity building training for extension functionaries at the national level. The training on restructured National Watershed Development Program to Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi extension functionaries were the most popular. The Watershed management programmes were also offered to the farmers of Namakkal, Madurai, Dharmapuri, Thiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Karur and Krishnagiri districts. Many Interstate Agricultural Research functionaries came forward to learn and adapt his technologies. He demonstrated SRI technology to the Agricultural Research Persons of Uttar Pradesh. Water Management Training and Conservation techniques for irrigated agriculture were offered to extension officials of Karaikal and Kerala. He was also instrumental in offering training to Tamil Nadu state extension officials. His training on SSI, Rural Artisan on SRI implements and E- Velamnai were more popular. He also organised several capacity building training for farmers.

Dr B. J. Pandian has also served as the Consultant for World Wide Fund for Nature, Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency, Danish International Developmental Agency, Central University of Tiruvarur, and the University of Jaffna, Srilanka in various academic, research and extension activities.

Honours and Awards

He was the elected fellow of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for collective farming, for enhancing farmer’s income and considering the best practices on Water and Agricultural Sustainability. He was the elected fellow of Centre for World Solidarity, Secunderabad. The government of Tamil Nadu recognised his excellent outreach work by identifying him as the Outstanding Extension Worker. He has been a Life Member, Board Member, and active committee Member in many scientific and academic bodies.