Prof. J. P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu has been conferred with prestigious National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (NAAS) fellowship for his immense contribution in developing innovative extension models for speedy transfer of improved technologies and entrepreneurship development for livelihood security of farmers. National Academy of Agriculture Sciences is an apex body of agriculture sciences in India wherein fellows are elected in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, technology and innovations. Prof. J.P. Sharma is presently Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, J&K. He also held an Additional Charge of Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir for about nine months. Previously he worked as Joint Director (Extension) and as Head, Division of Agricultural Extension and Director, Centre for Advanced Faculty Training (Extension) at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He has vast experience of about 35 years conducting strategic research, guiding, teaching postgraduate students, conducting national/ international training programmes and carrying out agricultural development interventions at the national level. He earned his Doctoral degree from IIT, Delhi and Post Graduation from GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and was awarded Fellowships from IIT, Delhi and UNDP respectively. He was associated with 20 externally funded projects; funded by ICAR, DST, DBT, NABARD etc. and 13 institutional research projects as PI/Co-PI. He has designed and developed innovative extension approaches like IARI-Post-Office Linkage Extension Model (Krishi Dak), Cyber Extension Model, Expert System, e-learning Module, National Extension Programme, IARI-VO Partnership Programme, Innovative Farmer Led Extension System, Vice- Chancellor to Village Programme, Farmers Participatory Seed Production Programme etc. for better and faster dissemination of technologies. Prof. Sharma introduced/taught 11 postgraduate courses in agricultural extension and guided 23 students. He has published 120 research papers in reputed journals, 300 technical articles in magazines and newspapers, 51 books, 60 book chapters. He is member of various National and International Professional Committees and invited as consultants/expert by Planning Commission, DBT, DST, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, Member Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dehradun, Member AERC governing body, Coordinator of Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (Government flagship scheme), Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (MoHRD). Prof. Sharma is recipient of more than 62 awards/recognition including Dr Rajendra Prasad Puruskar and Hari Om Ashram Trust Award of ICAR, Best Agricultural Extension Scientist Award of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Raj Bhasha Gaurav Puraskar of Ministry of Home Affairs,Manthan Award-South Asia, Dr. G.S.Vidyarthi Award, MANAGE Best Agriculture Extension Book Award and Life Time Achievement Award from Agriculture Today Group for his outstanding contribution in the field of agricultural extension
