Industrial Agroforestry Perspectives and Prospectives

K.T. Parthiban

Dr.K.T.Parthiban is a Professor of Forestry and is currently heading the Department of Agroforestry, Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam. He is engaged in professional forestry teaching, research and extension for the past 18 years. He is pioneering in conceiving the value chain models for Industrial Agroforestry and promoted industrial wood plantation establishment in association with pulp, paper, match, plywood and biomass power generation industries. He is also pioneer in development of varieties in trees particularly in Casuarina and Melia and transferred these varieties to farm lands through Consortia mode Tree Farming. He is also credential for conceiving comprehensive Tree Insurance Scheme and implemented TIS successfullyin Tamil Nadu. He has vast experience in teaching UG, PG and Ph.D Programme in Forestry and has guided over 30 M.Sc and Ph.D scholars. He has handled numerous projects funded by DST, DBT, ICAR, NOVOD Board and several wood based industries. He has published 7 books and over 100 research papers in forestry research. Some of his books like Objective Forestry, Subjective Forestry to IFS Aspirants and Industrial Agroforestry have found wide range of utility by the students, professional foresters and wood based industries. Dr.K.T.Parthiban travelled widely including UK, France, Republic of Ireland, Germany, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil, Denmark etc. and gained skill and expertise on forestry technologies and applied them in India with suitable modifications.

R. Umarani

Dr. R Umarani is a Professor in the Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam. She is a recipient of Prize for Best M.Sc. (Ag.) student in Seed Technology, Best Research Atticle Award (Seed Research) and Best Team Researcher Award (TNAU). She is involved in teaching seed science and technology courses for both under graduate and post graduate students for the past 18 years and also indulged in seed technological research and has guided more than 10 students. She has completed two externally funded projects and has filed 5 patent applications. Two of the products developed are being marketed viz., Nutri Gold and Seed Aid. Seed pelleting protocol developed for mustard and seed pelleting prototype developed through externally funded project projects are under commercialiiation. She has published more than 50 research papers, 12 review articles and 35 popular articles. She has been trained at International Rice Research Institute, Philippines.

S.U. Kanna

Dr. S. Umesh Karma is an Assistant Professor (Forestry) with Forest Biotechnology specialization working at Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam. He has over 10 years of teaching, research and extension experience and guided more than 15 research scholars. He was trained in Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Use of Molecular Markers in Tree Improvement at University of Melbourne, Australia. He had more than 85 peer reviewed papers, 12 books and 7 book chapters at his credit. He has organized more than 25 capacity building programmes to the various stake holders including line department officials, researchers, representative from forest based industries, self help groups and farmers. He is currently involved in the inventory and improvement of alternate High Yielding Short Rotation genetic resources for forest based industries.

I. Sekar

Dr. I. Sekar is a Professor of '~orestry and is,currently heading the Department of Forest Products and Utilization, Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam. He is involved in teaching, research and extension for the past 18 years. He has got good experience in teaching UG, PG and Ph.D Programme in Forestry and has guided several M.Sc and Ph.D students. He has handled many external funded projects funded by Government of India and Tamil Nadu State Forest Department with special emphasize on wood technology, secondary timber forest product and value addition of forest and agroforestry residues. He has been trained in wood seasoning and preservation at University of Melbourne, Australia. He has published more than 5 books and over 70 research papers in forestry research.

P. Rajendran

Dr. P. Rajedran is an Assistant Professor (Forestry) working in the Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam with Tree Improvement as specialization. He has got wide experience in teaching, research and extension. Currently he is involved in development of alternate pulpwood genetic resources through inventory and selection.

P. Durairasu

Dr. P. Durairasu, I.F.S. is a Chief Conservator of Forests and currently working as a Dean, Fmest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. As a Professional Forester he has a wider experience in managing, conserving and protecting forests and forests genetic resources: He has served as Di&ict Forest Officer, Working Plan Officer, Conservator of Forests and Chief Conservator of Forests and has implemented several projects funded by both state and central government agencies. As a Dean, he has introduced specialization programme in post graduate forestry programme and launched several contract farming projects leading to establishment of industrial wood farming in association with wood based industries. He has published several books and articles related to agroforestry, forest management and conservation. He has been serving as an expert member in forestry related committees of state and central government. He is a coordinator for Industrial Agroforestry Value Chain project and incorporated wood based industries in this value chain.