Dean, Agriculture College, COA Kumher

Dr. Mahesh Kumar Sharma, born on July 19, 1969, in Bhanpur Kalan, District Jaipur, boasts an exceptional academic background. He did his M. Sc. (Ag.) in Horticulture with a Gold Medal from Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur in January 1991. Subsequently, he pursued a Ph. D. specializing in Fruit Science from the same college in 2001, supported by a Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.

Dr. Sharma embarked on his professional journey as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. He held esteemed positions at KVK, Ajmer and the Jaipur Development Authority, serving as the Senior Horticulturist and Head of the Horticulture Wing, where he spearheaded notable horticultural projects viz. Central Park, development and beautification of roadside avenue plantation, road medians, circles, triangles, community and colony parks in Jaipur city. During his tenure from 2000 to 2002 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Tabbiji, Ajmer, supported by project funding from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, successfully introduced the cultivation of new flower crops including zinnia, cut flower roses, carnations, chrysanthemum, and other significant flowers. This initiative played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the floriculture industry in Ajmer district by enhancing farmers' knowledge of floriculture and facilitating the cultivation of flower crops in their fields. From June 2005, commenced tenure at the Rajasthan Agriculture University Headquarters in Bikaner within the Directorate of Research, where he also undertook teaching responsibilities at the College of Agriculture, Bikaner. Subsequently, in 2008, promoted to the position of Associate Professor and was reassigned to the Precision Farming Development Centre, ARS, Bikaner and also given the responsibility of instructing undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students. Again in 2011, placed in the All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits-Date palm, assuming additional responsibilities for the PFDC Project, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate academic mentorship.

He has a multi-faceted personality and has worked under different capacities, on promotion to the rank of Professor in June 2013, he worked at College of Agriculture, Lalsot, Dausa, until December 2014. In January 2015, again assumed the role of Project In-charge within the SKN College of Agriculture, SKNAU, Jobner, overseeing the All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits, as well as the management of the Asalpur Farm for seed production. He taught several undergraduate and postgraduate courses in horticulture science. He also looked after the Nodal Cell (Education) ICAR of SKNAU, Jobner, and management of the Technical Cell at SKNCOA, Jobner for about 5 years. Notably, during his tenure at SKNCOA, Jobner developed the Karan Lasora variety of Lasora under the AICRP on AZF in 2017 and delivered several recommendations/packages of practices on arid fruits.

Dr. Sharma's contributions transcend academic realms. He delivered over 100 lectures in training programs for the benefit of farmers and participated in approximately 50 Radio Talks on All India Radio Stations and 15 TV Talks on Doordarshan Kendra, Jaipur. Moreover, he mentored 11 M. Sc (Ag.) Horticulture students, contributed significantly to the research, publishing 30 papers in National & International journals and presenting 20 papers in International and National Symposia/Seminars/Conferences.

He has made outstanding contribution both as an academician and researcher. Dr. Sharma also served as Professor and University Head, of the Department of Horticulture at SKN Agriculture University, Jobner-Jaipur, Rajasthan, assuming this role from March 2023 to October 2024. Furthermore, he visited Taiwan, Italy and Sri Lanka to attend International Conferences and short-term training programs. Notably, he also delivered his expertise as a Peer Review Team member for accreditation of the universities constituted by ICAR, New Delhi and conducted 03 influential winter/summer/short courses sponsored by ICAR for agricultural scientists and educators nationwide.