SPEAKERS

Dr. P. K. Tripathi, Deputy Director General Horticulture, CPWD, having experience of more than 28 Years, in the field of Horticulture and Ornamental Gardening ranging over various fields of Horticulture. He has published many research papers and articles in the Journals and Magazines. He had also undergone International Training in the Urban Greenery and Park Administration at Osaka, Japan, conducted by JICA. He is the members of many Professional Societies.The CPWD, comprises of Civil, Electrical, Architecture and Horticulture wings, finds its relation with the built infrastructure. The Horticulture Wings of CPWD was established in 1st April 1912 headed by Shri. R. H. Loke (British origin) as Horticulture Superintendent now gone up to the level of DDG, Horticulture, who is the incharge of all the Horticulture activities carried out in the VVIP areas, office premises and residential colonies across the country. With the increasing urbanization, the demand for fruits, vegetables, grasses, foliage, flowering and medicinal potted plants shall increase manifold. We need to gearup for the opportunity by adopting modern scientific production systems to deliver quality plants at reasonable rates. The need of the hour is to diversify and create newer and attractive options of plants to make the Horticulture and Landscaping industry even more attractive.

Prof. C. R. Babu, Professor C.R. Babu served as a faculty member of the Department of Botany, University of Delhi for more than 35 years. He was the founder Director of the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) and School of Environmental Studies at the University of Delhi, and brought into existence the Department of Environmental Biology (now designated as Department of Environmental Studies) at the University of Delhi. He was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi from 2000 to 2005. Presently he is Professor Emeritus at the University of Delhi and Distinguished Professor of the Environment and Ecology at the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University Delhi. He is the Project Director of the Centre of Excellence Programme of the Ministry of Environment & Forests & Climate Change, Government of India at CEMDE (University of Delhi) and Project Incharge of the Biodiversity Parks Programme of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at the University of Delhi.

Professor Babu has been working in the areas of Conservation Biology, Biodiversity, Ecological Restoration, Ecosystem Dynamics and Functions, and Systematics for more than 40 years. Forty Four students secured their Ph.D.s from the University of Delhi under his guidance. He along with his students published about 227 research papers in national and international journals. He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences (Bangalore) and Chairman/Member of several National and International Committees on Environment and Ecology.

He is the recipient of the three National Awards:

(i) Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for the year 2009.

(ii) VASVIK Award 2005 for Environmental Science and Technology.

(iii) Narain Dutt Award 2008 for Conservation of Nature.

Dr. Praveen Singh, is an agriculture professional with 18+ years of experience in different fields of agriculture sector. Started his career as a consultant to European Commission project and followed by British High Commission project in the field of Rural Development. From Rural development, he diversified his professional journey and join a corporate i.e. Tata Chemicals Ltd. He served at different roles and locations for ensuring desired outcome in different projects/responsibilities. He was one of the founder members of customized fertilizer team at Tata chemicals and contributed significantly for the development of customized fertilizer, branded compost and outsourced farm services. His professional journey also includes exposure to Africa, where he was responsible for Corporate Farming and leased 25,000 ha of land from Ethiopian Government.  He also worked with National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation as Joint Director and managed the seed business & Development activities. Past 8-10 years, he has been significantly contributing for the development of the Hydroponic growing system in India. He initiated and delivered Hydroponic projects at DS Group and Dabur Group. He is a proud Khetibadiwala and puts his best effort for developing Hydroponic growing system as a successful growing system for meeting needs of Urban Population in India. He is associated with >1000 hydroponic practitioners and sharing his knowledge for the development of Hydroponic sector in India. He is also consulting hydroponic projects in India, Africa and Bangladesh.

Anita Tikoo Matange is a practicing Architect-Landscape Architect with Vinyas. She received a Bachelor's in Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. and a Master's in Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University, USA. Her professional experience covers a wide range of landscape architectural practice including Sustainable Urban Storm Water Management, Urban Design, Green Streets, Campus Planning, Natural Resource Management, Cultural Landscapes and Tourism Infrastructure Development, Landscape restoration, Ecological Planning, Environmental Planning, and Site Planning. She was also an adjunct Professor at SPA, New Delhi, between 2000 and 2018.  She has published a number of research papers which emphasize design and planning based on ecological principals.Anita enjoys cooking with seasonal ingredients. In her terrace garden she grows some of the foods that fuel many fermentation experiments in her kitchen. Her garden, its produce, and the prepared foods have been featured at many national and international Fermentation Festivals, symposia, and in print and online media. She conducts Workshops (presently online) where like-minded people join her on weekends to learn more about seasonal ingredients and how to grow, gather, cook and preserve them.

Dr. S Chellaiah Director Horticulture, New Delhi Municipal Council.
Since 2004 working in NDMC on various capacity . Urban landscape and Urban Horticulture and amenities development and maintenance, bringing innovation and creative in design, formation of feature with landscape principles. Achieving desired aesthetics, sustainability is ultimate task of every action. Last 20 Years, out of which 17 plus years in Govt service on various capacities where directly involved Horticulture, Landscaping, Tree Plantation, Soil management, Green waste Management, composting, water and irrigation management, project and estimate, proposal, budgeting ,financial proposal, developmental proposal preparation and execution and monitoring and maintenance in a sustainable manners etc.

Dr. Prashant Govindrao Zade, the Chairman of A S Agri And Aqua LLP is a man who has worked tirelessly to build a world-class enterprise in the agriculture industry. He completed his engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications from the University of Marathwada, India, in 1999. Well experienced in implementing large media projects across various industry segments,Dr. Prashant Zade is also adept with skills such as diagonal thinking, creative marketing, critical business analysis, and team building. He works as a scale-up specialist and an eco-thought leader for his company. Under his valuable guidance, the entire team of A S Agri and Aqua LLP has created a globally renowned company in the fields of agriculture and aquaculture.

Dr. Pranay Kumar, serving as Section Officer (Hort.), CPWD, New Delhi, under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, having expertise in Horticulture (Medicinal and Aromatic Crops) in the wide spectrum of Urban Landscape & Gardening covering different Agro Climatic Zones of the country. He has published research papers, articles, and abstracts for different Journals & Magazine of Horticulture. He has membership of different societies of national importance in the field of Horticulture. He has been awarded ICAR-National Talent Scholarship and pursued his graduation from University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka. He has been awarded ICAR-Junior Research Fellowship and pursued his Post-Graduation from University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka. He has also been awarded ICAR-Senior Research Fellowship and pursued his Doctoral degree program in the field of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops from Bidhan Chandra KrishiVishwavidyalaya, West Bengal.

During his tenure in CPWD, he has rendered his duty in the prestigious areas of the country, VVIPs residential bungalows, and prestigious Govt. buildings etc. He has contributed significantly in beautification of the said areas, plantation drive of medicinal and aromatic crops etc. under the guidance of his superior officers.

Now-a-days the significance of herbal and essence protruding plants has enhanced to manifolds keeping in view of recent pandemic. Hence, the propagation and utilization techniques of such God gifted herbal plants comes in the role.

Dr. Pratiksha Kumari, Section Officer (Hort.), CPWD, having the experience of seven years in Horticulture (Floriculture & Landscape Architecture) which includes the time period of her research work too. She has completed her M.Sc. (Hort.) from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and her Doctoral degree from Indian Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Bengaluru. Her MSc (Hort.) research was on Tissue culture Propagation of Bougainvileas and she did Plant breeding and Physiological studies in China Aster (Callistepuschinensis) for her Doctorate. She is also having teaching and research experience in academics.

She has published many research papers, articles, and abstracts for different Journals & Magazine of Horticulture. She has life time membership of different societies of national importance in the field of Landscape & Floriculture.

She has joined CPWD in the year 2018. During her tenure in Horticultureshe served in different Locations including the horticultural maintenance of official residences of VVIP dignitaries and Government Sunder Nursery.Presently she is maintaining the official residences of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Vice-President and Hon’bleMinisters along with Hon’bleJudges of Supreme Court and High Court of India. Ground Level Maintenance of these Bungalows include all the aspects of Modern gardeningi.e Lawns, Shrubs, Annuals, Indoor gardening, Rockery, Organic Vegetable farming and Herbal Gardening.

With increasing developmentandurbanization the spaces are getting constricted, so the future of Horticulture is to research and find ways and techniques to not just include horticulture in the life of common man but also to produce healthy vegetables with minimum use of plant protection measures.

Sh. Navdeep Singh, serving as Section Officer (Hort.), CPWD, New Delhi, under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, having expertise in Horticulture (Medicinal and Aromatic Crops) in the wide spectrum of Urban Landscape & Gardening covering different Agro Climatic Zones of the country. He has published research papers, articles, and abstracts for different Journals & Magazine of Horticulture. He has membership of different societies of national importance in the field of Horticulture. He completed his graduation from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana & pursued his Master degree Program in the field of floriculture & landscaping from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana (Punjab).

During his tenure in CPWD, he has rendered his duty in the prestigious areas of the country, Prime Minister Office (PMO), South & North Block, VVIPs residential bungalows, and prestigious Govt. buildings etc. He has contributed significantly in beautification of the said areas, plantation drive of medicinal and aromatic crops etc. under the guidance of his superior officers.

Now–a-days the significance of Landscape is very important keeping in view of the pandemic & day to day increasing of pollution. Hence the urban landscaping plays important role.

Dr. Deepti Saxena, Assistant Director (Hort.), CPWD has having the experience of Eleven years in Horticulture ( Floriculture & landscaping) which includes the time period of her research work too. She has published research papers, articles, book chapter and abstract’s for different Journals & Magazine of Horticulture. She has completed her under graduation from Lucknow University in Life Science, Post-Graduation & Doctorate degree in Floriculture & Landscaping from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology.

She has joined Horticulture Wing of CPWD in years 2015 as Assistant Director (Hort.). During her tenure of six years as Assistant Director (Hort.), she participated with full zeal in preparation of CPWD Annual Flower Shows and National Seminar in “Greenery and Landscaping”. She also conducted successful webinar & training in Horticulture by exploring the department with new techniques topic related to Horticulture and also by providing the best Speakers expertise in different fields of Horticulture. She is also associated with Hort. Maintenances Manual, Yard sticks, CPWD Delhi Schedule Rates, Delhi Analysis Rates& Specifications in Horticulture & Landscaping which is considered as a bench mark for development & maintenance of Horticulture works in entire country.

Today the utmost important aspect for Horticulture is to grasp the opportunity by including the modern scientific techniques to diversified the horticulture industry to make it to excel it on its top level.

Dr. Anuj Kumar Hand surgeon and Microsurgeon director at Microsurgey centre, Agra

Singer and stage performer, writer and author of five publications, novelist and blogger, poet, story narrator on Youtube, passion for Gardening.