Dr. T.N. PRAKASH
 Associate Professor and Co-Principal Investigator, TOE-NRE
Principal Investigator, Cost of Cultivation of Arecanut Project
Editor - "Hittalagida" Journal
Department of Agricultural Economics
UAS, GKVK, Bangalore - 560 065, Karnataka, India
Ph: 91-080-23620025 (O), 28560267 (R)
Fax: 080- 23620025
email: hittalu@bgl.vsnl.net.in / prakashtnk@yahoo.com

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, BANGALORE, 560065. Involved in teaching, research and guiding the post graduate students in the fields of Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, Sustainable Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing and Prices since 1984.
  • Principal Investigator of Government of India' scheme on "Estimating the Cost of Production of Arecanut" in Karnataka since 1998. The scheme is instrumental in providing Minimum Support Price to arecanut in Karnataka.
  • Co-Principal Investigator of Team of Excellence in Natural Resource Economics, under a World Bank Funded "National Agricultural Technology Project" sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi since July 1999.
  • Honorary Editor of a quarterly journal Hittalagida (meaning - the plant at the back yard of the house) in local vernacular language published from Bangalore and Editorial Committee Member of Honey Bee another quarterly published from Indian Institute of Management, Ahemdabad

Academic qualifications

  • He received a Post Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Bonn,Germany for studies on Economics of Biodiversity Conservation with focus on rice in February 2004.
  • He received his Ph.D.(Food and Agricultural Marketing Management) from the University of Mysore in April 1997.
  • M.Sc.(Environmental and Resource Economics) University College London, UK, August 1993.
  • M.Sc.(Agricultural Economics), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, June1986.
  • B.Sc.(Agriculture), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, March,1980.

Additional Trainings and Summer Institute

  • Three Indian Council of Agricultural Research Training courses on Agricultural Economics.
  • A World Bank Sponsored Faculty Upgradation Program on Environmental and Resource Economics.
  • Conducted three National Training programs on Natural Resource Economics.

Research Accomplishments

  • Effectively undertook Two Government of India's research projects, Four University research projects, Two Foreign Funded research projects and 12 Post Graduate dissertation works. Published 17 Research papers, 25 Books/reports and more than 50 popular articles. Participated and Presented papers at 130 National and International Seminars and meetings. In addition, given ten television programs related agriculture and one quiz serial and 10 talks in All India Radio on eco-tourism and heritage of Karnataka.

Significant Publications

  • "A Theoretical Framework to Promote Organic Produce Marketing in India", Indian Journal of Agricultural Marketing, Vol.17, No.3, (conference number), pp 1-16, 2003.
  • "Hi-tech Floriculture, Sustainability and Food Security Issues: The Case of Rose Cultivation around Bangalore, Karnataka" in Vandana Shiva and Gitanjali Bedi edt. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: The Impacts of Globalisation, Sage Publication, New Delhi, Thousand Oaks, London. (2002).
  • Tank Resource management for Livelihood Security in Hilly Zones of Karnataka, Agricultural Economics Research Review Conference issue; pp. 30-39, 2002,
  • "Indian Coffee in the Context of World Trade Organization - Challenges and Scope for Negotiations", THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE August 7, 2002.
  • World Trade Organization and Indian Agriculture, Janata, Vol. 56, No. 7, pp. 6 - 8, 2001.
  • Agro-Chemicals and negative Externalities - Conceptual and Methodological Issues. Ind. Journal of Agril. Economics, Vol. 56, No. 3. (conference issue), pp 359, 2001.
  • "Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management - An Eco Institutional Perspective" in Anil K. Gupta edited Criteria and Indicators of Sustainability in Rural Development - A Natural Resource Perspective, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi. (2001).
  • Farmers' Movements in Karnataka - Land Reforms to Sustainable Agricultural Development, Janata, Vol. 55, No. 17, pp. 5 -8, 2000.
  • Farmers' Knowledge and Innovations in Developing Dry-land Agriculture, LEISA Vol. 16, No. 2, pp 23-25, 2000
  • Impacts of Co-operative on market Structure and Prices - The Case of CAMPCO Ltd., Karnataka, Ind. Journal of Agril. Economics, Vol. 53, No. 3. (conference issue) pp 333-343, 1998.
  • "Marketing and Export Potential of Organically Grown Products" in Shivashankar et. Al edited Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, published by Association for Promotion of Organic Farming, Bangalore,.1997.
  • "Sustainable Development - Experience of Indian Agriculture" in Anil Agarwal edt. The Challenge of Balance, Published by Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi . 1997.
  • "Natural Resource management in ancient India and "Indigenous Seed system for the development of Dryland/rainfed agriculture" chapters in Information kit on Resource Management in Rainfed drylands, published jointly by International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Philippines and MYRADA, Bangalore.
  • Globalization and Indian Farmers, VOICES - Journal on Communication for Development, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp 39-42. 1996.
  • Production and export of Indian tea and coffee: an analysis of growth and instability, Indian Journal of Marketing, Vol.7, No.1, pp 32-39, 1993.
  • "Prospects of Mushroom Cultivation in India," Financing Agriculture, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp 20-25, 1991.
  • "Market margin analysis of India coffee", Current Research, Vol.20, No.12-14, pp-9-16, 1991.
  • "Co-operative Farming for Agricultural Development in India", The Co-operator, Vol. 28, No. 2, 505-6, 1991.
  • "Economic analysis of fruit processing", Mysore Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol.24, pp 124-130, 1990.
  • "Economic analysis of fruit processing in Karnataka - A case of Karnataka Agro Fruit Ltd.", Indian Journal of Marketing, Vol.14, No.8,9,10, pp 9-11. 1989.
  • "Processing and marketing of arecanut in Karnataka, Cocoa," Arecanut and Spices Development Journal, Vol.12, No.5, pp 109-112, 1988.
  • "A study on supply response, growth rate and market margin of Indian coffee", Agricultural Economics Research Review, Vol. 1, No.1-2, pp 31, 1988.

Important Conferences at Abroad and India

  • Invited as the sole representative from India and presented a paper on "Traditional Agriculture in India" in the Regional Symposium on Culture and Agriculture in the Global Context, Organized by UNESCO at Bangkok, Thailand in 1995.
  • Presented a paper on "Environmental Sustainability in the context of Agricultural Development, the case of Karnataka Agriculture, India" at the International Society of Ecological Economic (ISEE) Conference 2000, organized by International Society of Ecological Economic and Australia New Zealand Society of Ecological Economics, Canberra, Australia, 2nd to 5th July, 2000.
  • Presented a paper on "Study and Development of Agricultural Diversity Prevalent in The Homestead Gardens Developed by Women in the Tropical Forestry Regions of South India" at the workshop on Food Security in South Asia - Enhancing Community Capacity to generate Knowledge and Influence Policy held at Thangail, Bangladesh, jointly organized South Asia Network on Food, Ecology and Culture (SANFEC) with the support of International Development Research Center, on April 6-8 at Canada in 2002.
  • Invited to as a sole representative from India to presented papers at the Regional Conference on Innovation and Appropriate Technology: Intellectual Property Aspects and the Transfer of Technology held at Mohale, (Lasotho) in Africa organized by World Intellectual Property Organization, (WIPO) A UN Body, February 23 to 30, 2002.
  • Presented a paper on "Effects of Incentive Systems on On-Farm Management of Crop Genetic Resources and Required Contract Designs: The Case of Rice in India , The Economics of Incentive Mechanisms for Biodiversity Conservation in Third BioEcon Workshop, May 22 - 25, 2003, Montpellier, France.
  • Co-chaired the panel discussion session of innovative farmers, tribal and artisans in the session on "Technological innovations of the farmers" at international conference on "Creativity and Innovations at the Grassroots for Sustainable Natural Resources Management" on January 1997 at Indian institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
  • A research paper entitled "Impacts of co-operative on market structure and prices - The case of CAMPCO Ltd in Karnataka" was presented in 58th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Agricultural Economics held at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during December 1998

Awards

  • Honoured with First Scouter Award from Dr. Abdul J Kalam, Honorable President of India Annual National Competition on unaided, grassroots green technologies organized by National Innovation Foundation, (NIF) Ministry of Science Technology, Govt. of India, during December, 2002 at New Delhi.
  • Received Third National Innovation Foundation, India Award at the National Level for Scouting Technological Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge in the 2001. The award was given by Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Secretary, DSIR, Govt. of India at New Delhi.

 

  • Received Using Agricultural Diversity Research Award from International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada for working on "Development of homestead garden diversity- Preserved by Farm women in western Ghats region of Karnataka, South India".
  • Received the coveted "Ford Foundation Award" to pursue M.Sc. in Environmental and Resource Economics degree at University College London, UK during 1992-93. The scholarship includes 8620 Dollars plus fees for one academic year.

Outstanding Contributions

  • Assisting the Governments in Fixing the Minimum Support Price to Arecanut: As Principal Investigator of Cost Cultivation of Arecanut Scheme, I have developed an appropriate methodology and estimated the costs of cultivation and production of arecanut in a most scientific way, in the traditional growing regions of Karnataka. The report attracted wide appreciations of farmers, co-operators and policy makers and enabled the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India and the Government of Karnataka enabled jointly to undertake a Market Intervention Scheme of giving a Minimum Support Price of Rs. 60 per kg of white Chali variety of arecanut in Karnataka during 2001-02.
  • Research on Ecological Implications of Hitech Agriculture: I am instrumental in developing the methodology and assessing the socio economic and ecological implications of hitech agriculture like grape, gherkin and floriculture in Karnataka. With my academic background of studying Environmental and Resource Economics degree (M.Sc.) at University college, London, UK, I have been promoting the Post Graduate research on this most important and emerging area of Agril. Econ.
  • PG Courses Designed and Taught: The PG course; Natural Resources Economics (Ag. Econ 609) designed and taught continuously for the past 10 years is the main motivation for the PG desertion work on natural resource and environmental economics in the department This is the past emerging branch of economics and nine of my own students have worked, for their PG dissertation, on this area. I feel pride to place on record that several meritorious PG students of our department have got admission to pursue higher education and training on this emerging field at abroad. In this background, our Department has emerged as the pioneering and outstanding institution in teaching and research on natural resource economics. In reorganization this the ICAR has rightly given the status of the "Team of excellence in Natural Resources Economics" to our department.

Publication of News Letters/Journals

  • As Honorary Editor, publishing a quarterly journal (registered) " Hittalagida" in local vernacular since 1994. The journal is devoted to document, study and disseminate traditional/indigenous knowledge, technologies, institutions and biological diversity preserved by rural masses of Karnataka. Eighteen issues are published since 1994.
  • As Editor, publishing, since 1988, a quarterly newsletter "TREE News" from the TOE in NRE to network and disseminate the research findings among the faculty, policy makers and NGOs working in the fields of natural resource economics and sustainable development.
  • Editorial Advisory Team Member of Honey Bee, a quarterly newsletter as a voice of creativity of grassroots innovators. Published from Indian Institute of management, Ahmedabad since 1989.
  • Served as Co-Chairperson of the Bimonthly Newsletter Krishi Tantrajna and Publication Sub-Committee of Institution of Agricultural Technologists, Bangalore during 1997-98

Communication and Networking through Websites

  • www.toenere.ac.in: is the website for the Team of Excellence in Natural Resource Economics (NATP) to keep abreast on the activities as well as academic and empirical research of the team. Its number of hits as on date is around 2000.
  • www.tambula.org: is an website under creation to disseminate the research findings, price and market information, current events and all other development activities related to areca nut cultivation and its inter crops in Karnataka.

Serving in the Committees/Task Forces of UAS and Governments

  • Member of Vigilance Squad to prevent ragging at the college and hostels in GKVK campus.
  • Convener of a Multidiscipline UAS Scientists Team to work and find remedy to yellow leaf disease of arecanut crop in Malnad region of Karnataka.
  • Invited by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Govt. of Karnataka to participate in the AGRO SUMMIT 2000 at Dharwad.
  • Special Invitee to the 'in house discussion' with Chairman, Agricultural Commission on issues related to the promotion of agri. biotechnology in Karnataka on 31/7/2000 and to the workshop on 7/08/2000 consequently at Institution of Agricultural Technologies, Bangalore . My comments were incorporated in the short tem report submitted to by the Commission to the Government in November 2000.
  • Served as a Member of Govt. of Karnataka's The Cell on WTO and Related Issues in Agriculture and Food. The Cell was Headed by Dr. Prem Nath, Former Asst. Director General FAO and submitted the report in January 2001.
  • Nominated to serve as Resource Person in preparation of perspective land use planning for Karnataka by the State Land Use Board, Govt. of Karnataka.
  • Nominated by Govt. of Karnataka to serve as a Member of the Technical Committee to Scrutinize and evaluate the technical proposals and Report on "Karnataka Community Based Tank Management Project - Economic and Financial Analysis".
  • Member of UAS Task Force Group to provide technical leadership and think tank on the contemporary development in the areas related to socio-economic perspective for agricultural development of Karnataka.
  • Office Bearer of UAS WTO Cell to provide needed information and advocacy to the government on matter related to implication of WTO on Karnataka Agriculture.
  • Member of Agriculture College Task Force to prepare the report on accomplishments of College of Agriculture, UAS GKVK for the purpose of accreditation of UAS during 2000.
  • Nominated from UAS, Bangalore to participate in the National Seminar on Value Addition in Indian Agriculture organized on 21st July 2001 by Industrial Development Bank of India at Bangalore.
  • Nominated as Expert from UAS, Bangalore to participate in the deliberation meetings of Karnataka State Agriculture Price Commission and to provide needed technical assistance to Commission.
  • Convener of Expert Committee for economic assessment of the research contribution of UAS Bangalore (AO/Gen.II/Com/CEC/2001-02 dt. 31/07/2001).
  • Nominated by UAS, Bangalore to participate in the National Seminar on WTO and Its Impacts on Indian Agriculture organized by ANGRU, Hyderabad, 18-19, August, 2001.
  • Served as the Coordinator for a Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Govt. of India's Thematic Working Group to formulate Strategy and Action Plan to Conserve and Use Domesticated Biodiversity in an equitable and sustainable way in India. The Group submitted the report to the Government in June 2003.
  • Invited from Govt. Karnataka's Department of Information Technology to participate in Expert Interaction Session for M&E for the World Bank Project on 7th January 2001.
  • Specially Invited by the Secretary to Government Agriculture and Horticulture Department, GOK, to attend the meeting on 2nd July, 2002 convened by Joint Secretary (Co-operation), Dept. of Agriculture & Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi to decide the Market Intervention and Minimum Support Price for arecanut in Karnataka.
  • Member of Expert Group on Agricultural Marketing formed by Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka.

Other Significant Accomplishments

  • Reviewing and Evaluation of Research Articles and Books for the reputed journals and publishers like Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, The Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Mumbai., Agricultural Economics Research Review, NCAP and Kalyani Publishers Ludhiana.
  • Setting Questions for Union Public Service Exams: It is the great honor as well as accomplishment to set objective type questions for UPSC Exam in Agricultural Economics at Honours Degree standards since 2000.
  • External Examiner to Set Questions and Evaluate Answers for UAS Dharwad and Mysore University.
  • Member of Assessment Panel for a Ph. D Pre-submission Seminar at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore
  • Examiner of Ph.D. Thesis works for out side university such as University Pune.
  • Member of Sub Committee on Library and Consultation for Institution of Agricultural Technology, Bangalo