About author : ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. K. P. Agrawal obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc.&AH) in 1968, Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) in 1972, from Veterinary College, Mathura, and Ph.D. from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (I.V.R.I.) Izatnagar in 1980. He had a humble beginning of his research/teaching career as a demonstrator in the Physiology Department at the Veterinary College, Mathura (1968 to 1970). Since then, he had worked in different capacities: as research assistant; senior research assistant; scientist; senior scientist at I.V.R.I. Izatnagar; associate research scientist/ associate professor/ research scientist at the Veterinary College, Gujarat Agricultural University, Gujarat; and scientist-S3/principal scientist/head of the division at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom. He assumed the responsibility of the National Coordinator of the World Bank National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) on 1st April, 1999 and continued as the National Coordinator of another World Bank-aided project, the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP), and served for 2 years before he retired in July 2007. He has 38 years of service experience, of which 30 years of wide experience in research, teaching, extension, research management, policy planning and institutional building. His significant research contribution is in the area of embryo transfer technology. He has 350 publications to his credit, of which 30 are books, chapters in books, monographs and bulletins. Dr. Agrawal has been the recipient of several awards/honours during his academic and research career. After retirement, Dr. K.P. Agrawal worked as a Senior Consultant in World Bank-Supported Projects, such as the “Water Sector Restructuring Project” in Madhya Pradesh, “Rajasthan Agricultural Competitive Project” in Rajasthan and “National Agricultural Innovation Project” in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Currently he is inde

About book : ABOUT THE BOOK The book covers different issues in agriculture. The author has pooled the knowledge of many experts and practitioners in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The main Aims and Objectives covered in the book are: 1) Enhance Production and Productivity for food and nutritional security, 2) Improve profitability through agro-processing and value addition and 3) Sustainability through training, skill development, entrepreneurship and communication. Stagnation in productivity, shrinking farm size, inadequate market infrastructure including warehousing and cold storage, and erosion of the foundations of sustainable agriculture such as soil and gene erosion, water logging, drop in ground water table and decline in surface irrigation are the areas that need urgent attention. There is need to pay attention to rural non-farm enterprises. All these issues in-depth have been covered under 40 chapters in the book. I am confident that the book would be of immense help to farmers, field officials, students and many others who directly or indirectly involved with agriculture and rural development.