Dr. Rajbir Singh has been appointed as the Deputy Director General (Agriculture Extension) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The appointment follows his successful tenure as the Assistant Director General (Agronomy, Agroforestry, and Climate Change) in the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division of ICAR at KAB-II, New Delhi, since 2023.
Dr. Singh's distinguished career spans over several decades, having held significant positions at various prestigious institutions. From 1995 to 2004, he served as a Scientist and later as Senior Scientist at the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Abohar. Between 2008 and 2012, he worked as Principal Scientist at the Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar. Dr. Singh also contributed as Principal Scientist in the NRM Division of ICAR, KAB-II, New Delhi, before taking on the role of Director at the ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute in Ludhiana from 2015 to 2023.
Throughout his career, Dr. Singh has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his groundbreaking work in agricultural sciences, including the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Outstanding Research in Agricultural Sciences in 2022. His expertise has also been acknowledged through the Nanaji Deshmukh ICAR Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Research Award in 2019 and the Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Outstanding Extension Scientist Award in 2016.
Notably, Dr. Singh has been actively involved in the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in the area of straw management, and has earned recognition from the Chief Minister of Punjab for his efforts in strengthening the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the state.
Dr. Singh's international contributions include being a member of the Indian delegation at COP-28 in Dubai, UAE in 2023, and participating in significant UNFCCC initiatives. He also serves in various advisory and leadership roles in national committees focused on climate-smart agriculture, natural farming, and agricultural adaptation strategies.
Dr. Singh's research interests cover Conservation Agriculture, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Precision Farming, Farming Systems, and Natural Farming, making him a key figure in advancing sustainable agricultural practices in India.
