Director, NRCC, Nagpur & Mission Leader, Technlogy Mission on Citrus For Vidarbha and Marathwada, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Dr. V.J. Shivankar joined Indian Council of Agricultural Research as Scientist (Agril. Entomology) at Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi in Dec. 1978, was promoted as senior scientist from July 1986- 26th July1998, Principal Scientist from 27th July, 1998 to July 31, 2008 and Director, NRCC, Nagpur w.e.f. August 1, 2008 . He joined National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur in Feb. 1993. Studied the region specific insect pest problems in citrus by travelling through out citrus growing belts of the country including Nagpur mandarin in Vidarbha and sweet orange in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, Kinnow and sweet orange areas in Punjab & Rajasthan, Khasi mandarin in North-East region (Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh).

He has about 100 scientific publications to his credit including the research articles (49), Seminar/Symposia (63), Popular articles (10), Technical bulletins (2), Extension bulletins (11), Folders (6), Radio talks (11), scientific reports, co-authored books (8), Books chapters (12) viz. Citriculture (1999), Citrus World Bibliography (2000), Insect pests of citrus (2005), Citrus: “1001 Question-Answers” (2001), Advances in Citriculture etc., a Manual on Citrus Insect Pest Management (2002). One of his books on citrus entitled “Limbuvargiy Falotpadan” (Marathi) was adjudged as the best book in Agri. published during 2002 and awarded the first prize. He has been actively involved in academic activities like organization of National and International Symposium on Citriculture, Winter School on Citriculture, sort term “Training courses in Citriculture” for NGOs and Govt. officials, and transfer of technology programmes. Worked out the Insect Pest Management Strategies for some of the major insect pests of citrus and also developed a “Mass-multiplication technique of the multifarous chrysopid predator of citrus insect pests, Mallada boninensis” which is in great demand.

He has also been nominated on the SAU’s academic bodies like Board of Studies, Academic Research Council and the P.G. Examination of Dr. PDKV. Akola (M.S.) and PAU , Ludhiana ( Punjab ).

He is the life member of Indian Society of Citriculture (ISC), Nagpur and Association for Advancement of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystem, Banglore. He was the treasurer (1997–2005) and now the Secretary of the ISC w.e.f. 16th Jan., 2006 and was bestowed with the “fellowship of ISC” (2006) for his contribution to citrus research. At present he is working on biological control and development of IPM in citrus.

Dr. V.J. Shivankar has taken over the charge of Director, National Research Centre for Citrus from Aug., 2008