Deepanjana Saha is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, where her research focuses on assessing the economic and ecological importance of coastal ecosystem services in the Gulf of Mannar, in collaboration with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO). She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agriculture from TNAU. Deepanjana has a strong background in interdisciplinary research, data analysis, and policy advocacy, with proficiency in tools like R, Python, SPSS, and Excel. Her experience includes internships at BOBP-IGO, contributing to research on marine fisheries insurance, and content writing roles at Pepper Content and SundayGrids. Additionally, she has served as an Agricultural Research Associate at the 360 Research Foundation, developing plans and policies for the agricultural sector. Deepanjana is fluent in English, Hindi, and Bengali and has demonstrated a commitment to community service through her volunteer work with various NGOs.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Devarajulu is the Director of the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, where he also serves as a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. With over 26 years of experience in agricultural economics research, Dr. Suresh Kumar specializes in areas such as research prioritization, agro-forestry development, watershed management, and the role of institutions in natural resource management and poverty reduction. He is actively involved in policy-oriented research on water resource management, focusing on watershed and tank irrigation systems, as well as groundwater issues. Dr. Suresh Kumar has published 5 books, 19 bulletins, 26 book chapters, and 56 research papers in national and international journals. He is the recipient of numerous University, national, and international awards for his contributions to teaching and research. He developed WADIAM, a computer-based model for watershed impact evaluation, and has secured grants from various prestigious organizations such as SANDEE, GDN, IFS, ICAR, and the Ford Foundation. Dr. Suresh Kumar has also served as a consultant for institutions like PA Consulting Group, USA, and IWMI, Sri Lanka, and has participated in numerous international academic and research activities.
Dr. P. Krishnan, MFSc, MBA, PhD, PGDEL, is the Director of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), a regional fisheries body comprising Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Krishnan has served in various capacities in research organizations under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), including his role as Principal Scientist at ICAR-NAARM, Hyderabad, and Scientist at ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. A renowned fisheries expert, he has led over 30 multi-institutional R&D projects funded by national and international agencies, and has published over 100 research papers on topics such as fisheries resource management, coastal zone management, and biodiversity conservation. Dr. Krishnan is a distinguished Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the recipient of numerous national awards for his contributions to fisheries science. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Regional Fisheries Bodies Secretariat Network (RSN), collaborating with FAO and other RFBs to enhance inter-regional cooperation for sustainable fisheries management.
Dr. Vidhyavathi A is a Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the same institution, where she has been a faculty member since 2004. With extensive expertise in production economics, natural resource management, and valuation, Dr. Vidhyavathi has guided numerous doctoral theses and led significant research projects, including studies on water demand and supply in agriculture. She has published over 60 research papers and is actively involved in various committees, serving as a research coordinator and advisor. Her contributions to agricultural economics and policy are widely recognized, making her a prominent figure in her field.
Dr. M. Maheswari is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, with over 31 years of experience in the field. She completed her Ph.D. at TNAU and has since focused her research on solid waste management, anaerobic digestion, and carbon sequestration. Dr. Maheswari has authored two books and several book chapters, alongside numerous research articles published in both national and international journals, with a total of 104 publications to her credit. She has also presented her work at 35 conferences and seminars, highlighting her active engagement in academic discourse. As an educator, she has guided 10 undergraduate, 15 postgraduate, and 3 Ph.D. students, contributing significantly to their academic and professional development. Dr. Maheswari is a member of several professional societies and has received recognition for her contributions to environmental sciences. Her extensive work in environmental research and education continues to impact the field significantly, emphasizing sustainable practices and innovative solutions for waste management.
Dr. M. Vijayabhama is a Professor of Statistics in the Department of Physical Science and Information Technology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. With 18 years of experience in research, teaching, and extension activities related to statistics, she has actively contributed to numerous national and international projects focusing on data analysis and statistical modeling. Dr. Vijayabhama has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and technical reports, and has contributed to several books and book chapters on statistics and data analysis. Her teaching experience encompasses undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students in agriculture and forestry, and she has guided many postgraduate students in their research projects. Her research interests include developing new statistical models, hypothesis testing, and analyzing large datasets, with extensive work in multivariate analysis, time series analysis, and statistical computing. Through her work, Dr. Vijayabhama aims to enhance the application of statistical methods in agricultural research and education.
