Prof Dr. Rohitashw Kumar, SKUAST-Kashmir Srinagar, India
Dr. Rohitashw Kumar (b. 15 August 1973) is a seasoned academic and innovator in agricultural engineering. Currently serving as the Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Head of the Division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), he is a pioneering figure in the integration of artificial intelligence and smart technologies in agriculture. His career spans over two decades of excellence in research, teaching, and institutional leadership, underscored by numerous national awards and impactful publications. 🌾📡
📘 Profile
Googlescholar
🎓 Education
Dr. Kumar earned his Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur in 2014, focusing on moisture uptake modelling in multi-layered soils. He previously completed his M.E. in Irrigation Water Management Engineering (1999) and B.E. in Agricultural Engineering (1997) from the College of Technology & Agricultural Engineering, Udaipur. His academic foundation is rooted in strong mathematical and scientific principles developed through his schooling in Rajasthan. 📘🧠
🧪 Experience
With rich experience in academia, Dr. Kumar has led multiple high-impact initiatives at SKUAST-K. He was a Visiting Fellow at Western Sydney University, Australia (April–June 2022), contributing to global agricultural research. As a mentor, he has guided award-winning M.Tech. theses and collaborated on national projects in watershed hydrology, protected cultivation, and automation in agriculture. His leadership extends beyond education into policy and applied research benefiting farming communities. 🌍🔬
🔬 Research Interests
Dr. Kumar’s interdisciplinary research blends advanced technology with environmental sustainability. His interests include artificial intelligence in agriculture, IoT-based automation systems, protected cultivation, hydroponics, and water resource modeling. His Ph.D. focused on plant-soil moisture interactions, while his ongoing work explores smart irrigation systems and watershed hydrology. His innovative approach continues to bridge engineering solutions with practical agricultural applications. 💧🤖🌱
🏆 Awards
Dr. Kumar’s illustrious career is decorated with national honors. He was awarded the Professor Water Chair by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, and the National Geospatial Faculty Fellow Award (2024) by IIT Bombay. Other accolades include the Gold Medal Award (2022), Leadership Award (2020), Distinguished Alumni Award (2019), and Special Research Awards (2017, 2015). His excellence in mentoring, publishing, and environmental protection has earned him over a dozen national recognitions. 🥇📜
📚 Publication Top Notes
A review on emerging water contaminants and the application of sustainable removal technologies
Climate change and its impact on plant diseases
Climate change and its impact on agricultural productivity in India
Impact of COVID-related lockdowns on environmental and climate change scenarios
Methods to estimate irrigated reference crop evapotranspiration–a review
Sustainable nanotechnology based wastewater treatment strategies: achievements, challenges and future perspectives
Methods to estimate evapotranspiration in humid and subtropical climate conditions
Biogas: a boon for sustainable energy development in India׳ s cold climate
Desalination: From ancient to present and future
The evolution of agricultural drainage from the earliest times to the presen