Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a senior agricultural scientist with over two decades of experience in vegetable research, has been appointed as the new Director of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi. The appointment, announced on April 4, 2025, was approved by the President of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society on the recommendation of the Agricultural Scientists' Recruitment Board.
Dr. Kumar will take charge as Director on a tenure basis for a period of five years from the date of joining or until further orders, whichever is earlier. His headquarters will be at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, but he will be liable for transfer anywhere in India.
Dr. Kumar, born on February 25, 1974, in Varanasi, completed his schooling at CSKM Public School, New Delhi, and Queens Inter College, Varanasi. He pursued higher studies in agriculture at C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (1991–95), followed by M.Sc. in Vegetable Science from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (1995–97), and Ph.D. (1997–1999).
He began his professional journey at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi as a Scientist in 1999, and subsequently served as Senior Scientist from 2008 to 2014, and Principal Scientist from 2014 to 2023 in the Division of Vegetable Improvement. He also served as In-charge, Project Coordination Cell, AICRP (Vegetable Crops) from 2020 to 2022 and is currently Project Coordinator of AICRP on Vegetable Crops.
Dr. Kumar has been the recipient of several awards, including the Best Scientist Award (2022) at ICAR-IIVR and the Harbhajan Singh Gold Medal Award in 2015 and 2019 for best research papers. He has also received an Appreciation Certificate from the Director of ICAR-IIVR and has served on various advisory bodies such as TOCIC (Ministry of Science & Technology), IIT-BHU, and VBS Purvanchal University. He is also a member of the National Advisory Committee on Climate Smart Agriculture under TIFAC, DST, New Delhi.
A fellow of the Uttar Pradesh Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Indian Academy of Horticultural Sciences, and the Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Dr. Kumar's research has focused on the breeding of chillies, tomatoes, garden peas, seed science and technology, plant variety protection, and farmers’ participatory seed production.
Reacting to his appointment on LinkedIn, Dr. Kumar wrote, “I am deeply honored and humbled to have been appointed as the Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR).” He highlighted his commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in agricultural research, and pledged to elevate IIVR’s impact by addressing the evolving challenges of modern agriculture.
