Tenure as Director: 20.05.1981 to 21.01.1986

Dr. K L Chadha was born on November 15, 1936, at Bhopalwala, District Sialkot (now Pakistan). Known as the "Father of Modern Horticulture" in India, he served as Director of ICAR-IIHR from May 1981 to January 1986. He also became the first Horticulture Commissioner of India and the first Deputy Director General (Horticulture) at ICAR Headquarters.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. (Agriculture) — Punjab University (1960)
• Ph.D. in Horticulture — IARI, New Delhi (1963)
• D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) — Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur

Career History

• Head, Dept. of Agriculture, Regional Fruit Research Station, Mashobra
• Assistant Horticulturist, IARI, New Delhi (February 1963)
• Fruit Specialist, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (1964–1969)
• Senior Horticulturist, IIHR, Bangalore (1969–1972)
• Project Coordinator and Head, Central Mango Research Station, Lucknow (1972–1980)
• Director, IIHR, Bangalore (1981–1986)
• First Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India
• First Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR Headquarters

Research Contributions

Dr. Chadha specialised in nutrition of fruit crops, plant growth regulators, and variety improvement in mango, grape, pineapple, citrus, stone fruits, apple, and mushroom production technologies. He established the Central Mango Research Station, Lucknow from inception and directed the All-India Coordinated Fruit Improvement Project. He promoted oil palm for commercial cultivation in India and served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, International Potato Centre, Lima, Peru. He provided international consultancy to 12 countries and 4 international organisations, and influenced public funding for horticulture — which increased 1,500 times between the VII and XI Five Year Plans under his advocacy.

Publications

• Over 100 scientific papers in national and international journals
• 30 books and bulletins
• Landmark 13-volume "Advances in Horticulture" (9,410 pages total)
• Guided 14 postgraduate students
• President of 9 professional organisations; Vice President of 6

Awards & Recognition

• Borlaug Award
• Om Prakash Bhasin Award
• B.P. Pal Memorial Award
• H.S.I.–Shiv Shakti Life Time Achievement Award
• D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) — Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology
• 20 awards and honours in total for contributions to Indian horticulture