Dr. V. Chellamuthu, Ph.D., Principal

Dr.V. Chellamuthu, hails from Manikattienthal village, Narikkudi Union, Virudhunagar district of Southern Tamilnadu. He was born on 11th February 1958 and completed his school at O.V.C High school Manamadurai. He obtained his UG, PG and Ph.D (Agronomy) degrees in Agriculture from the renowned Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He did his PG diploma in Remote sensing in 1989 at the Indian institute of Remote sensing, Dehradun. He entered into the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 1983 as Assistant Professor and promoted as Associate Professor in 1997. In 2000, he moved from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute (PAJANCOA AND RI), Karaikal, Union Territory of Puducherry, as Professor and Head of the Department, Agronomy. As HOD Agronomy, he was responsible to start the PG programme in Agronomy at PAJANCOA & RI in 2001. He served for more than 19 years in his capacity as Professor of Agronomy, including 15 years of service as HOD Agronomy and three years as Dean of PAJANCOA & RI (Head of Institute). He was the member of master plan committee of KVK, Madur, Karaikal; member of selection committee for the recruitment of teaching and non teaching staff of PAJANCOA & RI, in his capacity as Head of the Department of Agronomy and Dean. He was also a member for the selection / promotion of Associate Professors and Professor at Annamalai University and Gandhigram Rural University. He was invited as advisor and resource person for imparting SRI technique of rice cultivation for the agricultural officers of Government of Goa in 2013.

Accomplishments

Academic:

Professor Dr.V.Chellamuthu's total academic service is 36 years, which includes 30 years of UG teaching, 23 years of PG teaching and 32 years of research. He has guided 25 PG and 3 Ph.D scholars in Agronomy. He was an external examiner for 25 Ph.D scholars and 45 PG students of various universities viz. Kerala Agricultural University, University of Agricultural Sciences, Karnataka, Aacharya N.G.Renga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh. He was a member in the Advisory Committee of 28 PG students of PAJANCOA & RI . He was instrumental to start the PG Programme in Agronomy at PAJANCOA & RI since 2001, as first appointed Head of the Department of Agronomy. He was member of board of studies for the B.Sc. (Farming) and B.Sc (Agriculture) programme of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and member of PG board of studies for 15 years at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Pondicherry Central University. He is a life member of Indian Society of Agronomy, Indian Society of Remote sensing, Indian Society of Coastal agriculture and ,Indian Society of Agroforestry and Forage crops

Research:

His areas of research includes Dry farming, Agroforestry, Remote Sensing, Forage crops and Rice ecosystem. He was responsible to introduce Bajra Napier Hybrid grass in the low lands of Karaikal. He has handled 45 research projects, published 102 research articles, 73 popular articles and attended & presented 45 research papers / abstracts in Seminars/Symposium/Workshops. Mobilized funds through externally funded projects and ICAR voluntary centres (All India coordinated research projects on rice, millets, Sunflower, Forage crops and medium range weather forecasting centre). He has developed agronomic package for irrigated rainfed cotton, Forage crops, Rice crop, Agroforestry and silvicultural package for Prosopis juliflora.

Outreach Programme:

He conducted 10 Front Line Demonstratios (FLDs) on various Agroforestry models and five FLDs on cotton .He delivered more than hundred special lectures to the farmers, Agricultural Officers and Agriculture Scientists during various training programmes. He also made more than 100 field visits to reach farmers. Conducted 13 trainings to farmers, agricultural officers and scientists and organized four Indo-French Agricultural training programmes for the diploma students of Lycee Agricole, Charles Bartlet, France between 2011 and 2015. He has popularized forage crops and direct seeding of rice in Karaikal and in adjoining cauvery delta region

Awards:

He was awarded the ICAR Junior Research Fellowship in Agronomy (1980 - 82). He was the elected Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS), Chennai (2010) for his outstanding contribution in the field of Agronomy / Agriculture. He was conferred with the title of "Protector of Agriculture" by the organic farmers federation of Chengalpat.

Institutional Development:

Dr. V. Chellamuthu has arranged to plant more than 1000 trees of Simaruba at FC&RI, Mettupalayam as ever 1st NSS programme officer of FC&RI, using the NSS volunteers of B.Sc forestry degree program and conducted two NSS camps.He contributed immensely for the development of farms at Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti, Ramanathapuram,Coimbatore and FC RI, Mettupalayam. He was the coordinator of placement cell of PAJANCOA & RI for three years (2008 to 2011) and member of various committees. He was responsible to modernize all the UG and PG classrooms at PAJANCOA & RI, excavation of two farm ponds, creation & development of playground, renovation of boys and girls hostels, besides increasing the admission strength from 60 to 80 during his tenure as Dean (2011 to 2014). He was instrumental in admitting students under NRI quota and management quota for the first time at PAJANCOA & RI to self sustain the Institute, when he was the Dean.