Aligarh : The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) has awarded its prestigious life-time Fellowship to Dr. Mujeebur Rahman Khan, Plant Protection (Plant Pathology & Nematology), Aligarh Muslim University. In order to recognize contributions of researchers and scientists from India and abroad in the field of agriculture and Allied Sciences every year and to develop a strong base of highly specialized research, the academy selects 15-20 Indian and foreign scientists to award its prestigious fellowship on its Foundation Day.

Dr. Khan was awarded by Dr. R. B. Singh, President, NAAS and Dr. S. Ayyappan, DG-ICAR in a glittering function at New Delhi. He is the seventh nematologist of the country to receive the honour since inception of NAAS.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khan emphasized the need of using environmentally safe materials in crop production system, and highlighted the benefits of organic farming and integrated pest management. He further emphasized that the countries like India where average farm size is very small, low input sustainable agriculture (LISA) suited well.

He said that the farmers should incorporate biofertilizers and biopesticides to improve the crop productivity and market value of the produce. He also highlighted the damages to crops due to air pollution emanating from coal fired industries, and suggested that crop plants having soft and expanded leaves like cucurbits and brassicas should not be grown in an area of 5-10 km radius of such industries. These industries also add CO2, which has its own implications in greenhouse related consequences. Elevated levels of CO2 and SO2 can aggravate the plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes etc, he added.

Dr. Mujeebur Rahman Khan has over 250 research publications and review articles and two patents (USA & India) to his credit. Further, he has contributed 7 authored/edited books published from USA, Germany and India. He has attended over 50 national and international conferences. He is a recipient of Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Award and Outstanding Scientist Award. Dr. Khan has spcialization in biological control of plant diseases, effect of environmental pollutants on the development of plant diseases, industrial waste utilization in crop protection and molecular characterization of species/races of pathogens.

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