General Informations

  • Join Date: 23/08/1996
  • College: College of Agriculture
  • Department: Entomology
  • Office Email: badal.bhattacharyya[at]aau.ac.in
  • Other Charges: Member of IPR Cell, NAHEP Cell

Education Details

 
 
 
 
 
1993
B.Sc. (Agri.)

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
1995
M.Sc. (Agri.)

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
2004
Ph.D. (Agri.)

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

 
 
 
 
 
Other Qualifications

Got 1st rank in Senior Research Fellowship Examination in the discipline of Agricultural Entomology conducted by the ASRB, New Delhi in 1998

Employment History

 
 
 
 
 
23-08-1996 - 03-09-2000
Junior Entomologist

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
04-09-2000 - 11-12-2003
Ph. D. Scholar

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

 
 
 
 
 
12-12-2003 - 04-11-2004
Junior Scientist

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
05-11-2004 - 30-06-2008
Junior Scientist

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
01-07-2008 - 03-07-2013
Senior Scientist

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
04-07-2013 - 30-06-2014
Senior Scientist & PI

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
01-07-2014 - 26-09-2021
Principal Scientist & PI

Assam Agricultural University

 
 
 
 
 
27-09-2021 - Till date
Professor and Head

Department of Entomology, AAU

Achivements
  • Received “Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award for Outstanding Research in Tribal Farming Systems, 2014” -bestowed by ICAR, New Delhi on the occasion of 87th Foundation Day and Award Ceremony held at Patna on July 25, 2015; Received “Dr. H. K. Jain CAU Award 2015-16” for “Excellence in Agricultural Research in the North-Eastern States of India” -bestowed by Central Agril. University, Imphal, Manipur on the occasion of CAU-Regional Agri Fair 2018-19 on 10 January, 2019.
  • Bagged “India Book of Record” for making National Record of “Most beetles collected in three hours” by collecting 73,700 numbers of Lepidiota mansueta beetles on 9th April, 2018 at Majuli river island and glorified AAU by making it the first-ever Agricultural University to have entered the “India Book of Records”; Received “Best Researcher Award-2018” bestowed by Assam Agricultural University on the occasion of “Golden Jubilee Celebration” on 17th April, 2018.
  • AINP on Soil Arthropod Pests (SAP), AAU, Jorhat centre has been adjudged as the “Excellent Centre” in the XIX Group Meeting held at the UHF, Ranichauri, Uttrakhand during 19-20th June, 2017; AINP on SAP, AAU, Jorhat centre has been adjudged as the “Excellent Centre” in the XVIII Group Meeting held at HPKV, Palampur during 19-20th June, 2015;.AINP on SAP, AAU, Jorhat centre has been adjudged as the “Excellent Centre” in XVI Group Meeting held at AAU, Jorhat during 9-10th Dec., 2011.
  • Received “Best Presentation Award” in the XVII Group Meeting of AINP on White grubs & Other Soil Arthropods held at RARI, Durgapura, Jaipur during 11-12th July, 2013; Received “Letter of Appreciation” for “Significant Contribution in White grub Research” during 2015-17 by the Network Coordinator, AINP on Soil Arthropod Pests, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
  • Received “Bir Singh Aasi Memorial all India best publication award” for the publication on “The Ecology and Control of Potato White grubs of India, Potato Research 58:147-164” authored by R. S. Chandel, Mandeep Pathania, K. S. Verma, Badal Bhattacharyya, Sumit Vashisth, Vinod Kumar (2015), Department of Entomology, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh.
  • Received “Best Oral Presentation Award” for research paper on “Social Engineering for the Management of Lepidiota mansueta in Majuli River Island of Assam” in International Conference on “Technological Interventions in Agricultural Sciences for Enhanced Productivity, Nutritional Quality and Value Addition (TIAS-2014)”, held at Central Institute of Horticulture, Deptt. of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, Dimapur, Nagaland during 17-19th February, 2015.
  • Received “Best Oral Presentation Award” of “Entomological Society of India” for invited research paper on “White grubs as Emerging Pests in the North Eastern Region of India and their Management” in “National Symposium on Entomology as a Science and IPM as a Technology-the Way Forward” held at CHF, CAU, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh during 13-15th November, 2014.
  • Received “Best Poster” award for the poster entitled “Effect of plant extracts on emergence of Trichogramma japonicum” by A. K. Barman, A. Basit, L.K. Hazarika and B. Bhattacharyya in the “National Symposium on Frontier Areas of Entomological Research” held at IARI during 5-7th Nov. 2003; Bagged “Consolation First Prize” in “International Insect Photography Contest-Cum- Exhibition” organized by Dett. of Entomology, UAS, Bangalore and ISAIS, PAU, Punjab held during 14-17th Feb. 2013.
  • Since joining I have been involved in 1 AICRP and 1 AINP project funded by ICAR, New Delhi. I have bagged 4 externally funded self-earned ad-hoc projects funded by DBT, Govt. of India and 1 ICAR-Extramural project and acted as Principal Investigator during 2012-2021. Besides I have been involved as Co-PI/ Associate Coordinator of 3 projects funded by NAHEP/ICAR.
  • Some of the notable research achievements made are as follows: Five technologies for managing different insect pests have already been recommended. Developed two Jatropha oil based veterinary products (Jatropha ointment and soap) as herbal remedy for livestock against ecotoparasites and pathogenic microorganisms causing cutaneous wounds. A Jatropha oil based biopesticide formulation has been developed. These 3 products are in pipeline for commercialization. The first ever attempt to convert the liquid snail mucin to dry form has been successfully standardized. This technology is patentable.
  • Collected and identified a wide array of scarab beetles including several new records from Assam. The scarabaeid fauna of Assam alone comprised of 44 species of scarabs under 6 sub families and 21 genera. Out of 44 species, 41 species have been reported for the first time from Assam. Molecular phylogeny of 18 species of scarab beetles using 11 markers has been completed. Altogether 48 aquatic insect species belonging to 6 orders and 20 families were recorded from Majuli river island, Assam. Identified 30 species of parasitoids & 26 species of predators from rice ecosystem along with their hosts, period of activity and relative abundance during 1999-2000.
  • Reported a key species of white grub, Lepidiota mansueta from Majuli river island, Assam. It has biennial life cycle which is first of its kind from N. E. India. It was credited as the “First report of Indian phytophagous scarab beetle with non-feeding adults”. Unraveled the mechanism of survival of grubs in waterlogged conditions. Pheromonal compounds of L. mansueta were investigated in collaboration with National Institute of Agro Biological Science (Japan) and National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (Bengaluru) and identified 9 pheromonal compounds.
  • Nutritional profiling of 16 commonly used edible insects (5 scarab beetles, 5 aquatic insects, 2 crickets, 2 grasshoppers and 2 sericigenous insects) and 5 snail species have been analysed. Efforts have been initiated to explore various edible insect powders for making value-added products like nutrient rich cakes, biscuits and other confectioneries.
  • Extensive efforts were also made to demonstrate the exploration of L. mansueta beetles for entomophagy purposes by popularizing “Lepidiota beetle fry” and “Roasted Beetle” diet among the populace of Majuli. This effort has been credited as the “Maiden organised attempt to convert a pest into cuisine” in India and has been extensively highlighted in national (The Times of India, The Telegraph, Deccan Herald) and regional newspapers, renown online magazines like “Roads and Kingdoms”, “Scoop Whoop”, The Thirdpole, Mongabay etc. as well as in electronic media of Assam.
  • Conducted massive mass campaigning programme through social engineering from 2010 onwards and found exceedingly successful leading to massive collection and killing of about 12.43 lakhs of L. mansueta beetles in Majuli. This group approach of extension mostly targeting the flood and erosion affected farmers and had tremendous impact in terms of protecting the crops, disseminating ecofriendly technologies, enhancing crop productivity as well as improving both livelihood and nutritional security.
  • Successfully implemented TSP activities under the aegis of AINP on SAP during 2011-2020. Wide varieties of material incentives were provided to 40 numbers of Lepidiota Management Groups of Majuli. Some innovative tools of social engineering viz., Awareness T-shirt, Calendar, Cap, Stickers, Rain head umbrella, Cup, Wall hanging plate were prepared. One mobile app “Soil Insects guide” and a state of the art kind of facility “Farmers training cum Guidance Centre” has been created at AAU, Jorhat.
  • Initiated multifaceted exploration of Giant African Snail and prepared “Snail Shell Powder” by using the dry shells and the nutrient profile has been analysed. “Snail Mucin” (a glycosylated protein) was extracted from the slime released and studies on antimicrobial activity is in progress. “Snail Art & Craft”- an innovative concept of preparing different decorative products has been developed. Efforts have already been made to patent “Snail Diya”.
  • Patent published/filed: 2 -(Development of a Jatropha based ointment as herbal remedy for livestock against ectoparasites and pathogenic microorganisms and process for obtaining the same” -App. No. 201931013419A Published on dtd. 09.10.2020); (Use of empty shell of Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) as lighting lamp (diya)- Applied on June, 2020)
  • External Expert member, Research Advisory Group Meeting, Rain Forest Research Institute (ICFRE) (2019 & 2020); Member, Board of Post Graduate Studies, SASRD, Nagaland University, (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20); Member, Regional Research Advisory Committee of Regional Sericultural Research Station, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Jorhat (2014-15 & 2015-16, 2016-17; Paper setter of ASRB-NET-SRF Examination, Guest Faculty in the Deptt. of Environmental Science, Tezpur University (2006).
  • Presently working as Editor, Insect Environment (Journal) and Member, Editorial Board of the Journal
    Entomological Research; Acted as “ Chairperson” in various Seminar/National Web-Symposium ; Delivered lead lectures/invited speakers (7 Nos.); Reviewer of “Integrative Zoology” journal (Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China) ; “Current Science” (Current Science Association, Bangalore); “Indian Journal of Entomology’’ (Entomological Society of India, New Delhi) and “Journal of Biopesticides” (Crop Protection Research Centre, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu)
  • Conceptualized, co-scripted and directed a Documentary on “AAU 50 Years of Golden Journey” and uploaded in AAU Website and social media. Involved in making of 4 documentary on various themes on Agriculture for Doordarshan Kendra-Guwahati & Arunachal Pradesh (2006-07). Currently scripted and directing one documentary on "Exploring Social Engineering in Agriculture" funded from TSP grant, ICAR.
Membership
  • International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS)
    Life Member
  • Entomological Society of India
    Annual Member
    2021
  • Malhotra Publishing house,
    Annual Member
    2021
  • Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
    Annual Member
    2021
  • Insect Study & Conservation Network
    Annual Member
    2021
  • Journal of Environmental Biology
    Annual Member
    2020
Projects
  • NAHEP sponsored project on "Production of skill-academia combined agricultural human resources to match the demand of 21st century under Institutional Development Plan (IDP)", implemented in 2017.
  • ICAR-NEH sponsored project on "Validation and Promotion of IPM in Rice and Horticultural Crops in NEH of India", implemented in 2021.
  • AAU- State sponsored project on "Farmers’ Participatory Approach for Community Based Management of Lepidiota mansueta: An Emerging Severe Key Pest in Majuli Island, Assam", project cost Rs.0.80 Lakh implemented in 2012.
  • NAHEP Component 2 Project sponsored project on "Image capturing of pests for purpose of developing artificial intelligence (AI) based mobile app”", project cost Rs.9 Lakh implemented in 2020.
  • DBT-Govt of India sponsored project on "Exploiting chemical ecology for IPM: Deciphering the phyto- semiochemicals involved in Insect-Plant interactions of major crop pests of North East Region-India", project cost Rs.1.85 Crore implemented in 2021.
  • Extra-mural Project, ICAR sponsored project on "Synthesis and field evaluation of pheromones for root grub, Lepidiota mansueta", project cost Rs.2.53 Lakh implemented in 2016.
  • DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Exploration of Microfauna As Biological Indicators and Bioremediation of some Degraded Soil Ecosystem of Assam", project cost Rs.23.70 Lakh implemented in 2013.
  • DBT-AAU Centre sponsored project on "Pesticidal Activity, Compatibility, Safety and Development of Herbal Veterinary Product from Physic Nut, Jatropha curcas", project cost Rs.9.0 Lakh implemented in 2012.
  • GoI-DBT sponsored project on "Multifaceted Exploration of Edible Molluscs of North East India", project cost Rs.5129996 Lakh implemented in 2018.