General Informations

  • Join Date: 24/08/1996
  • College: College of Horticulture and Farming System Research
  • Department: Plant Protection
  • Office Email: manoj.kalita[at]aau.ac.in

Education Details

 
 
 
 
 
1991
B.Sc (Agri)

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

 
 
 
 
 
1993
M.Sc (Agri) in Plant Pathology

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

 
 
 
 
 
2003
PhD in Plant Pathology

CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana

Employment History

 
 
 
 
 
24-08-1996 -
Assistant Professor

KVK, Cachar

 
 
 
 
 
01-07-2011 - 25-12-2022
Associate Professor and Professor

Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU

 
 
 
 
 
26-12-2022 - Till date
Professor

College of Horticulture and Farming System Research, AAU

Achievements
  • Achievement Description

    1. Award/Prize/ Certificate won:

    i. Gujrat Agro Industry Cash award for getting highest OGPA in MSc (Agri) degree programme among the students of Plant Protection in the Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat.

    ii. D.K.Dutta Memorial Cash award for getting highest OGPA in MSc(Agri) degree programme among the students of Plant Pathology in the Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat.



    2.Teaching activities

    # associated in teaching from 2009 and conducted UG courses (PP112. PP112(i), PP312, PP(O)313, PP412, PP(E)412, PP122, PP122(irr), PP212, PP223, PP323, PP(O)322) from 1996 to 2015-16 as per 4th Deans committee recommendations and courses PP123, PP213, PP313, PP323 and PP223 as per 5th Dean’s committee recommendations.# conducting ELP on Mushroom cultivation under ELP on Commercial Horticulture.# conducting PG courses PP508, PP516, PP519, PP502, PP504, PP505 and PP506.# wrote 06 books as per the course contents for different UG courses. # prepared 07 practical manuals for the UG courses PP223, PP313, PP213, PP313, PP323, PP123 and PP213. # acted as major adviser for 04 MSc (Agri) students and presently guiding 01 PhD and 02 MSc (Agri) students. # acted as member of advisory committee for 17 Post Graduate students.



    3. Research activities

    # completed 04 externally funded project and 03 internally funded projects as PI/ Co-PI at BNCA. # 52 districts of North East Region of India were surveyed for Sugarcane grassy shoot (SCGS) and Sesame phyllody (SP) disease incidence, symptomatology and insect vectors and yield loss assessment under the DBT twinning project “Cataloguing of Phytoplasma diseases of major crops of North East Region of India and molecular characterization.” Operated in the department” #confirmed association of 16Sr XI-B group of phytoplasma affecting sugarcane cultivars and 16SrI-B group of phytoplasma affecting the sesame cultivars in the North East Region of India. # 16Sr DNA sequences of 15 isolates and secA gene sequences of 6 isolates of SCGS phytoplasma, generated from present study were submitted in NCBI GenBank with Acc. No. KY420054-56, KY420057 to KY420070, KY420074 (16Sr DNA) and MF372934 to MF372938 (sec A DNA). #21 isolates of 16Sr DNA and secA gene sequences of 9 isolates of SP phytoplasma generated in the present study were submitted in NCBI GenBank with Acc. No. KY420071 to KY420073 and MG761693 to MG761706 (16Sr DNA) and MG761710 to MG761718 (secA DNA). #8 isolates of 16Sr DNA and secA gene sequences of 4 isolates of phytoplasma infecting weeds and other plants generated in the present study were submitted in NCBI GenBank with Acc. No. KY420057 - KY420058, MG721532 and MG821481 to MG821485 (16Sr DNA) and MG721533, MG821486 to MG821488 (secA DNA). #Phylogenetic study of the DNA sequences confirmed the association of 16Sr I, 16Sr VI-D, 16SrXIV group of phytoplasma affecting weed sp. and other plants in North East Region of India. #out of eight different types of leafhoppers collected from sugarcane and sesame fields, Hishimonus phycitis Dist was confirmed as the vector of SP disease.# currently research programme on “Evaluation of three sugarcane varieties for reconfirmation of resistance against Sugarcane Grassy Shoot (SCGS) disease” and “Management of sesamum phyllody disease” is being conducted.



    4. Extension activities

    # worked as SMS (Plant Protection) in KVK Cachar and KVK, Jorhat from 1996 to 2009. During this period associated with transfer of technology through training, frontline demonstration, on farm trial, method demonstration, farmer-scientist’s interactions, field visit etc. # popularized mushroom farming in Barak valley and developed 2 mushroom entrepreneur # established mushroom spawn production laboratory and mushroom production unit at KVK, Cachar and supplied quality mushroom spawn to the mushroom growers of the 3 districts of Barak Valley and neighbouring state like Mizoram.# refined and popularized the technology of application of bleaching powder @1.5kg/bigha for management of the dreaded bacterial wilt disease of brinjal and tomato in Barak valley # associated with implementation of demonstration unit on mushroom at KVK, Jorhat # organized more than 80 trainings as Course directors/course coordinator/associated scientists for Practicing farmers, farm women, School Dropouts, Rural Youths and Extension Functionaries, more than 35 FLDs, more than 25 OFTs, 15 field days. # acted as resource person in more than 13 farmers-scientist interactions. # developed 28 extension bulletins, # published 52 popular articles in news paper (Dainik Jugasankha, Sonar cachar, Ajir dainik Batori, Ajir asom etc.) and 15 popular article in magazine (Saar batori, Payobhora etc.) # # accompanying as scientist in exposure visit of farmers to ICAR, Barapani. # Master trainer ATMA, Cachar district. # team member for development of SREP for Cachar district. # participated in 8 number of radio talks broadcasted by AIR, Silchar and AIR, Jorhat, 1 live phone in programme telecasted by DDK, Guwahati. # participated as an expert in live telecast of “Agricultural Crop Seminar” on 7.2.2015 organised by programme Executive, DDK, Guwahati at FMTTI campus, Biswanath Chariali.



    5.Institution building activities

    # performed duties as Warden, RCC boys hostel, BNCA (2011 to 2014) # In-Charge, department of Plant Pathology, BNCA (2010 to 2012 and 2021 till date) # Established mushroom spawn production and mushroom cultivation unit at BNCA with financial assistant from AAU-DBT centre # as a member established biopesticide production laboratory at BNCA # established molecular laboratory in the dept. of Plant Pathology with the fund received from DBT, New Delhi under DBT Twinning project #acted as Programme Supervisor, RAWE programme(2009-10), KVK, Jorhat centre. # Dean’s Reprentative of RAWE Programme(2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13) Academic Session, BNCA, centre # Professor In-charge, students Centre, SU, BNCA(from 2011-12 to 2016-17) # Accompanying as Professor In-Charge of BNCA Students contingent for participating in the ICM, AAU held at different campus of AAU (2011-12 to 2016-17) # Accompanying as Professor In-Charge of AAU Students contingent for participating in the (AGRI-UNIFEST-13 held at JNKVV, Jabalpur (MP) from 24 to 28 Feb, 2013 # Convener, Vigilance committee, BNCA to keep vigil of any probable incidence of ragging(2012-13, 2013-14) # Rendered services as faculty member for successful organization of 15th All AU sports and games meet-2014 held at AAU, Jorhat from 24th to 28th March, 2014 # Member “Under graduate Students counseling committee” of BNCA for the Academic session 2010-11. # Member of diagnostic team constituted for investigating the problems in Rice at FMTTI campus, Biswanath Chariali # Member PPC, BNCA (2011) # Member of working committee for establishing Indigenous fruit garden at BNCA (2012) # Member of working committee to implement campus beautification works at BNCA(2012) # Acted one of the Teacher counselor for 4th year BSc (Agri) students, BNCA for appearing in JRF examination(2016-17)# acted as Course Director of Training programme entitled “Mushroom Cultivation” for the students of BNCA from 29th to 31st March, 2012. #Member, Security cell, BNCA (2011) # Member, Diary farm management committee (2015 till date) # acted as Course Director of the 6day training programme on “Mushroom spawn production technology” in the Dept. of Plant Pathology, BNCA from 16.3.20 to 21.3.20 #Secretary, Canteen Management committee, BNCA, # Member, Gymnasium management committee, BNCA #In-charge, mushroom spawn and mushroom production unit, BNCA. # visited valencia, Spain to participate in the 4th Meeting of IPWG (2019)



    6. Peer recognition

    # acted as external question setter of CHF, CAU, Pasighat, AP # acted as external question setter of College of Post Graduate Studies, CAU, Barapani # acted as an expert for Spot Evaluation of Answer Booklets of Agricultural Research Service (Mains) Examination, 2017
Membership
  • Phytopathogenic Mollecutes
    Life Member
  • Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology
    Life Member
Projects
  • ICAR-NCIPM, New Delhi sponsored project on ""Validation and Promotion of integrated Pest Management in Rice and Horticultural crops of NEH region of India'", project cost Rs.4 Lakh implemented in 2024.
  • NEC Shillong sponsored project on "Establishment of integrated plant for production of agricultural Bio-inputs at BNCA, AAU, Biswanath Chariali", project cost Rs.1494 Lakh implemented in 2023.
  • Institutional sponsored project on "Management of sesamum phyllody disease in Assam", implemented in 2019.
  • Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB) New Delhi sponsored project on "Impact of modified microclimates on growth, yield and pest-disease dynamics in Ginger", project cost Rs.37.3 Lakh implemented in 2016.
  • NEC, shillong sponsored project on "Standardization of micro cutting techniques of Bhut Jalokia (Hottest Chilli of Assam) for commercial supply of Virus free seedling.", project cost Rs.49 Lakh implemented in 2011.
  • DBT, GoI, New Delhi sponsored project on "Molecular Mapping and Construction of linkage Map for YMV resistance in Soybean", project cost Rs.69 Lakh implemented in 2012.
  • DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Cataloguing of Phytoplasma diseases of major crops of North East Region of India and molecular characterization.", project cost Rs.84.04 Lakh implemented in 2014.