Raj Kumar Sonkar

Dr RAJ KUMAR SONKAR was born on Republic Day 26th 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(Horticulture) at the National Research Centre for Citrus, 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. Presently he is involved in the citrus rootstock studies, organic manuring in Nagpur orange and DUS project on citrus.

Dr Sonkar is an active member of New York Academy of Sciences, USA and he is a life member of Horticultural Society of India, New Delhi; Society for promotion of Horticulture, Bangaluru, Indian Society of Citriculture, Nagpur and Hi-Tech Horticultural Society, Meerut. Nominated reviewer of the African Journal of Plant Science and Journal of Food Science & Technology, CFTRI, Mysore. He is Member of the panel of experts of College of Horticulture & Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat.

He has published about 132 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 Hindi Magazine “Santra Samvad”-2010-11 by Nagar Rajbhasha Karyanvanayan Samiti Nagpur, Received Vidarbha Bhushan Award-2012 from Yashwant Bharti Lokkalyan Sanstha, Nagpur, for out standing contribution in Agriculture Recently honoured with the Gold Medal-2012 from Hi-tech Horticultural Society, Meerut during “International Conference on Impact of Technological Tools on Food Security under Global Warming Scenario” held at Meerut, 11-12May,2013 and selected for the award of Maharashtra Bhushan Award-2013 on his rootstocks and post-harvest research work carried out during last 22 years at the Centre.

Dr Sonkar conducted a Summer School on “Advances in Citriculture” as a Course Coordinator during 7-27th May, 2013 at NRC for Citrus,Nagpur and Dr Sonkar has published abut 35 research papers,2 review papers, 6 Book chapters, 6 Extension bulletins/folders, 3 training manual, 23 popular articles and 66 abstracts in various International and National Seminars / Symposium etc. He attended various International and National Seminars / Symposium / Workshops etc

Achievements
He worked on Post-Harvest Technology, covering the aspects like storage, maturity standards, packaging and transport of Nagpur mandarin, processing aspects like debittering of Nagpur mandarin juices, water conservation in citrus and waste utilization of Nagpur mandarin. Presently he is involved in the citrus rootstock studies for Nagpur mandarin and acid lime and Dr. Sonkar is a life member of Horticultural Society of India and Indian Society of Citriculture. He has published about 115 publications at the National and International repute including research papers, book chapters, reviews, popular articles extension folders and extension bulletin edited a Hindi magazine Santra Samvad. He attended various International and National Seminars / Symposium / Workshops etc.