Autor: M. Abdul Salam

Dr M. Abdul Salam, an international cashew Expert and a well known Agricultural Scientist from India, is currently working as Head Department of Agronomy, Kerala Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum. Born on the 10th May 1952, Dr Salam took his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Kerala University (1973), Masters Degree in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the Kerala Agricultural University (1976) and Doctorate in Agriculture (Agronomy) from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India (1984). He has a brilliant academic record throughout his career. With Common Wealth Academic Staff Fellowship, he completed his Post Doctoral Research at the University of Aberdeen, UK (1992). Dr Salam has work experience in several countries (UK, USA, Suriname, Brazil, Mozambique, Malawi, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Angola & Kuwait), as an agricultural Advisor/Cashew Consultant/Educationist. He was working as a cashew researcher and development specialist over the past two decades. With 33 years of experience in teaching, research and extension in the field of agriculture, with specialization in cashew, he Published 12 books, 154 reseach papers, 15 review articles, 8 extension bulletins and 3 book chapters. In addition, he has made substantial contributions to popular science and extension in agriculture. He received several awards and scientific recognitions for his contributions to agricultural science. He is recipient of the Honorable Vice president Dr. G.S. Pathak’s prize (for his Ph.D. research) and the best Agricultural Scientist award (Krishi Viingyan Award) of the government of Kerala (1999-2000). He guided 23 students at Masters Level and 7 students at Doctorate level. As a teacher, he offered 17 courses at under graduate level and 10 courses at masters and doctoral level. Dr Salam is a well known international cashew consultant who made substantial contributions to cashew research and development. His research areas include irrigation water management, Plant nutrition, Soil fertility management, and development of varieties and technologies for tropical crops. His current research areas are cashew nut production, bio-ethanol production, organic farming, and water management and stress physiology. Prof. K.V. Peter, basically a horticulturist and a plant breeder is an acknowledged research manager. He was associated with development of several varieties in tomato, brinjal, chilli, bittergourd, snake gourd, oriental pickling melon, amaranth and cowpea. Breeding for resistance to bacterial wilt initiated in 1979 led to release of popular varieties like Pant C-1 and Pant C-2 in chilli, Sakthi in tomato and Surya in brinjal. Sources of resistance to aphids in cowpea and viral leaf curl in chilli were located. Prof. Peter established a spices biotechnology facility at Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut and nurtured an active team of scientists who worked out protocols for rapid multiplication of 32 spices including black pepper and cardamom. Prof. Peter provided effective managerial support to the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Calicut to possess the world’s largest collection of black pepper and cardamom germplasm. Prof. Peter edited 40 books and is author/co-author of 26 books/bulletins and 125 research papers. Prof. Peter edited 3 volumes of ‘Handbook of Herbs and Spices’ published by Woodhead Publishing Company, UK and CRC, USA. He co-edited Handbook of Industrial Crops published by Haworth Press, USA. The National Book Trust of India published the books Plantation Crops and Tuber Crops authored by him. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, Fellow National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad and Fellow National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai. He was awarded the “Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award” by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi conferred ‘Recognition Award 2000’ and ‘The Dr K Ramiah Memorial Award-2008’ to him. The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore bestowed ‘Dr M.H. Marigowda Award’ for outstanding contributions to Horticultural Sciences. He is the recipient of Silver Jubilee Medal for outstanding contributions in vegetable research, instituted by the Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Varanasi, U.P. He received the Dr PNSF Gold Medal-2009 for outstanding contribution to advancement of Horticultural Science. During 1991-2000, he got the then National Research Centre of Spices elevated into Indian Institute of Spices Research. Indian Council of Agricultural Research New Delhi conferred ‘The Best Institute Award on IISR’ for its research contributions to spices. Dr Peter is Chairman, Tea Research and Extension Council, Valparai, India, Trustee Federal Akshaya Trust Federal Bank, Aluva, Member Academic Council and Board of Studies, IGNOU New Delhi, and Chairman, NAIP-Cashew, CEPC, Quilon. He did post doctoral training at USDA, BARC-W, Maryland. He attended scientists meet at Bangladesh, Taiwan, Goudeloupe (FWI) and USA. The Research Team led by him received the National Award for Processing and Product Development given by The Department of Biotechnology, GOI. During his Vice-Chancellorship at Kerala Agricultural University (June, 2001 to June 2006), the University received Ist prize in 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 and 3rd prize in 2004-2005 in academic performance on all India basis from ICAR, New Delhi. The ICAR New Delhi conferred ‘The Sardar Patil Award’ for the Best ICAR Institution 2003 to Kerala Agricultural University for allround performance. He is now Director World Noni Research Foundation, Chennai. He edited the much read Monograph on Noni and Compendium of Noni Research.