Dr Rajender Kumar did his M.Sc. Agronomy (1997) and Ph.D. Agronomy (2001) from PAU, Ludhiana and joined PAU, Ludhiana as Assistant Extension Specialist (2001-2002) then as Assistant Agronomist, Deptt. of Agronomy PAU, Ludhiana (2003 to 2014). He joined ICAR and worked as Senior Scientist, WTC, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi (17.06.2014 to 16.06.2017) and Principal Scientist, (17.06.2017 to 04.12.2017). He Joined back PAU, Ludhiana and served as Senior Agronomist, Deptt. of Agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana (05.12.2017 to 15.02.2018), Principal Agronomist, School of Organic Farming, PAU, Ludhiana (16.02.2018 to till date). His field of specialization is crop production. He has completed one TAR project in Punjab funded by NATP as CO-PI during 2001-02 and two sponsored project on sugarcane as Co-PI from 2005-06 to 2007-08. He has worked as PI, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Sugarcane (Ludhiana Centre from 2006-2010). He is PI of CSS-MIDH- The development programmes on spices funded by Directorate of Arecanut & Spice crops, Calicut, Kerala (PI 2013-2014 and 2017 to till date). He has guided 3 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D students, published 47 research papers in national and international journals. He has published one edited book, 7 book chapters, 50 extension articles, delivered 12 TV Talk/Radio talks and numerous lectures. He has evaluated and released 3 varieties of Mentha arvensis and one fennel variety ‘AF 2’ for Punjab conditions and has made 16 Research recommendations.

Awards and Recognitions:

• Scientist of the year award (2016) conferred by National Environmental Science Academy (NESA), New Delhi.

• Best poster award on ‘Productivity of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) in response to straw mulching and integrated nitrogen management’ in International conference on Natural Resource management for food security and rural livelihoods, 10-13 February, 2015, New Delhi, India.
• IJWS Best paper award 2017 entitled “Management of weeds in sugarcane- wheat intercropping system in sub-tropical india” 49 (2): 139-146

Fellowship/ Scholar-ship

• ICAR Merit-Cum-Mean Fellowship during Graduation (B.Sc. Ag&AH)

• Merit Fellowship during Masters (M.Sc. Agronomy)