Tenure as Director: 25.11.1987 to 11.11.1988 & 21.03.1991 to 31.01.1994

Dr. R M Pandey was born on 3 January 1934 in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. He served as Director of ICAR-IIHR in two separate tenures and made lasting contributions to plant physiology and post-harvest technology of horticultural crops.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. (Agricultural Botany) — University of Allahabad (1958)
• D.Phil. — University of Allahabad (1963)
• Ph.D. — Tashkent University, USSR (1968)

Career History

• Superintendent (Plantation), Central Silk Farm, Dehradun (1958–1960)
• Lecturer, Meerut University (1969–1970)
• Physiologist, IARI, New Delhi (1970 onwards)
• Professor, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (1976–1978)
• Scientist S-3, IARI, New Delhi
• Director, IIHR, Bangalore — First term: 25.11.1987 to 11.11.1988
• Director, IIHR, Bangalore — Second term: 21.03.1991 to 31.01.1994

Research Contributions

Dr. Pandey specialised in plant physiology applied to mango, grape, and guava — covering plant nutrition, growth regulators, fruit storage physiology, and mango malformation. He conducted research in Tashkent, USSR from 1963 to 1969 as an assistant scientist, building expertise in plant biochemistry and post-harvest behaviour of tropical fruits.

Publications & Mentorship

• 55 research papers in national and international journals
• 6 popular articles and 1 technical bulletin
• Guided 4 Ph.D. and 5 M.Sc. students