Dr Rajula Shanthy

Scientist Profile

Research interests and current focus

Farmer participatory research / technology transfer
Gender analysis and empowerment
Digital outreach initiatives
Sociological impact assessment

Outreach and Extension

Served as Head, Extension Section and led major technology roll out initiatives at the Institute and was responsible for management of all aspects of Agricultural Extension R&D (2006-2023)
In an initiative of mobile phone-based technology application for sugarcane, developed an interactive android mobile app ‘Cane Adviser’ on sugarcane detailing all aspects of crop management from planting to harvest in trilingual (English, Hindi and Tamil) with downloads from 61 countries and had over two lakh hits.
Developed Course Modules for short-term training programs for farmers/cane staff and conducted more than 90 such courses.
Developed a novel concept of designating progressive cane growers through capacity building programs on sustainable sugarcane technologies as ‘sugarcane lead farmers’ and are in turn used as change agents in villages for disseminating advanced technologies.
Need based technological interventions under Tribal Sub-plan were implemented in six hill ranges benefitting over 35 Tribal villages and success stories were documented and published.
Developed syllabus for M.Sc. (Sugarcane technology) course for open and distance learning mode, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 2006
Initiated and developed a three-month Certificate Course module on Sugarcane Agriculture for cane development personnel, 2010
Developed computer based tot modules , interactive multimedia module on sugarcane cultivation, expert system on major sugarcane pests, databases and video films on specific sugarcane technologies.
Conducted frontline demonstrations on new sugarcane technologies in farmers fields and assessed their socio-economic performance.
Conducted several survey based studies with cane growers and cane staff on sociological appraisal of sugarcane technologies.

Membership in professional societies

Founder Member, Society for Sugarcane Research and Development, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Society for Sugar Research and Promotion, New Delhi, India.
Society of Extension Education, Agra
International Society of Extension Education, Nagpur
Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi
Agricultural Research Scientists Forum, India
Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata

List of current external funded project

Mechanized priming of planting material and technology popularization for revival of sugarcane productivity in Tamil Nadu – funded by RKVY (Co PI) (Ongoing)
Doubling Income of Small Farms through Sugarcane Based Farming System by NADP/RKVY of Tamil Nadu state (Co PI) (Ongoing)
Farmer support program for sustainable sugarcane production in India (by SOLIDARIDAD) (Completed)
Design and development of a mobile app on sugarcane (ICAR extramural funding 2016-17) (Completed)
Need based technological interventions under Tribal Sub Plan (Ministry of Tribal Affairs through ICAR (2015-2021) (Completed)
National level training programs (NFSM, Min of Agri) (Completed)
Frontline demonstrations on promising sugarcane technologies (NFSM, Min. of Agri))
Developing an user-friendly website on sugarcane production (DST) (Completed)
Farmer Participatory Action Research Program Phase II (Completed)
Farmer Participatory Action Research Program Phase I (Completed)
Technology Assessment and Refinement (TAR) of Sugarcane Based Production System in the Irrigated Agro-eco System through Institute Village Linkage Program (IVLP) in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu (Completed)

Awards and honours

Sugar Industry Excellence Award for the outstanding contribution in rural women empowerment and entrepreneurship during the 8^th International Sugar Conference and Sugarcon 2024 organized by International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies, China at ICISE, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Vietnam during 16-19 September 2024.
Recognition Award from the Society of Extension Education, Agra for the outstanding contribution in the field of transfer of technology and extension management in Agricultural Sciences during the First International Extension Education Congress held at RARI, SKNAU, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan during 18-20 December 2023.
Certificate of Appreciation from the Society of Extension Education, Agra for the contribution as Co-Chairperson for a Technical Session during the First International Extension Education Congress held at RARI, SKNAU, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan during 18-20 December 2023
National Convenor, 9^th National Extension Education Congress, SEE, 2018
BEST Paper Award, SUCROSYM, SSRD, Coimbatore, September 2017
Invited speaker, International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies, China during November 2014
Fellow, Society of Extension Education, India 2014
Best Paper Award, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, 2013
Article of the Year 2011 The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (Formerly European Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension) – taylor and francis, UK
World Who’s Who of Women 15^th Edition of International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, London, 2011
Best Extension Professional National Award, Society of Extension Education, India 2009
Young Scientist Award, Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi, 2008
Young Woman Scientist Award, Science City, Govt. of Tamil Nadu state, 2007
Bharat Jyothi Award Certificate of Excellence, India International Friendship Society, 2006
Best Paper Award, Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi, 2006
Extension Excellence prize for Creativity, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Univ., Coimbatore, 2005
Young Scientist Award, Mitraniketan Farm Science Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala, 2004
Best Paper Award, Society of Extension Education, Tamil Nadu, India, 2000
Cash recipient from Govt. of India for the articles ‘Participatory Research in Agriculture’ and ‘Women empowerment in agriculture’ published in the Employment News,1996,1997
ICAR Senior Research Fellow, Ph.D. (1991-1996)
ICAR Junior Fellow, M.Sc. (Agricultural Extension) (1989-1991)
TNAU Merit Fellow, B.Sc. (Agriculture) (1985-1989)

International Exposure

Received Sugar Industry Excellence Award for the outstanding contribution in rural women empowerment and entrepreneurship during the 8^th International Sugar Conference and Sugarcon 2024 organized by International Association of Professionals in Sugar and Integrated Technologies, China at ICISE, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Vietnam during 16-19 September 2024.
Invited by the Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangzi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, at Nanning, China to give a talk on Technology and variety adoption in sugar industry in India in the International Symposium on Sugarcane Breeding organized at Nanning during 4-8 December 2023.
5^th IAPSIT International Conference on Green Technologies for sustainable growth of sugar and integrated industries in developing countries (IS 2014) and gave a talk on ‘From setts to settlings in sugarcane cultivation’ held at Nanning, China during 25-28 November 2014.

Research Publications

Jitendra Kumar Chauhan, Kausik Pradhan, T. Rajula Shanthy, Vinod Kumar, Ashok Kumar Sharma et al (2024) Unveiling the Intellectual Landscape of Indian Research Journal of Extension Education (IRJEE): A Bibliometric Content Analysis. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 24(3): 1-18. doi:10.54986/irjee/2024/jul_sep/1-18
Punithavalli M, Mohanraj K, Rajula Shanthy T, Yuva Sankar Pandian M. 2024. Mechanism of biochemical resistance in sugarcane varieties derived from Saccharaum and Erianthus species. SugarTech https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-024-01521-x.
Rajula Shanthy T, Vijay Bhaskar Rao. C, Jitendra K. Chauhan (2023) Mobile Use Pattern of Sugarcane Growers in Kamareddy District, Telangana State. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 22(5): 275-282.
Saravanakumar S, Rajula Shanthy T (2022) Performance of high yielding promising sugarcane variety for western zone of Tamil Nadu. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 22(1): 55-59.
Rajula Shanthy T, Manivel K, Saravanan L (2021). Adoption of drip irrigation in sugarcane. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. 21(1): 1-6.
Rajula Shanthy T, Senthamil (2021) Adoption of technologies in sugarcane – A performance analysis. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci 10(1):1892-1901.
Rajula Shanthy T, Gurumoorthy (2020). Trash management practices in sugarcane cultivation: A socioeconomic analysis. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. 20(4):1-8.
Rajula Shanthy T, Jayabose C, Bakshi Ram (2020) Need based technological interventions in tribal villages under Tribal Sub Plan. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology. 9(4): 696–704.
Rajula Shanthy T, Gunasridharan L (2019) Socio-economical profile and constraints in adoption of sugarcane technologies by cane growers in Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education. 19(2&3): 77-82.
Rajula Shanthy T, Lalita Pradip Kocharekar, Saravanan L (2019) Pest management behaviour of sugarcane growers of kolhapur district, Maharashtra: A socio economic analysis. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology. 8(6): 1161–1172.
Rajula Shanthy T, M. Chinnapillai, L. Saravanan (2019) Integrated pest management in sugarcane – A socioeconomic analysis. International Journal of Science, Environment and Technology 8(4):834-839.
Rajula Shanthy T, Venkatesaperumal M (2018) Biofertilizers for sustainable sugarcane production: A socio-economic analysis. Journal of Sugarcane Research 8(2):127-137.
Rajula Shanthy T, Krupesh DH (2016) Soil fertility and plant health management: Techno-economic survey and constraint analysis. Journal of Sugarcane Research 36(1): 42-51.
Rajula Shanthy T, Subramaniam R (2015) Farmers’ perspective on integrated nutrient management in sugarcane. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 15(1): 100-106.
Rajula Shanthy T, Boobalan R (2014) Constraints and opportunities in sugarcane ratoon management – A performance analysis. Journal of Sugarcane Research 4(2): 48-55.
Rajula Shanthy T, William Antony A, Karpagam C (2013) From manual to mechanical harvesting in sugarcane: Social implications. Journal of Sugarcane Research 3(2): 145-162.
Rajula Shanthy T, Ramanjaneyalu S, Karpagam C (2013) Socio-economic performance analysis of sugarcane cultivation under Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative method. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 14(3): 111-118.
Rajula Shanthy T, Monika S, Nisha S, Surekha M, Balaji R, Gopalasundara R, Kalyan D, Ramachandran S (2013) Participatory rural appraisal: A holistic approach for getting insight into an agro-ecosystem analysis. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 13(2):1-9.
Rajula Shanthy T, Thiagarajan R, Mukunthan N (2012) Farmers perceptions about white woolly aphid in sugarcane and its management practices. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 12 (1): 1-7.
Rajula Shanthy T, Muthusamy GR (2012) Wider row spacing in sugarcane: A socio-economic performance analysis. SugarTech 14 (2): 126-133.
Rajula Shanthy T (2011) Strategies for effective dissemination of appropriate technologies to sugarcane growers in India. SugarTech 13(4): 354-35
Rajula Shanthy T, Thiagarajan R (2011) Interactive multimedia instruction versus traditional training programmes: Analysis of their effectiveness and perception. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (Formerly European Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension) 17(5): 459-472. (Best paper of the year 2011 by Routledge).
Rajula Shanthy T, Thiagarajan R, Karpagam C (2010) Participatory technology transfer for widespread adoption of Co 86032 sugarcane variety in coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. Journal of the Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research 28 (1): 85-93.
Rajula Shanthy, T. 2010. Gender perspectives for sustaining sugarcane based farming system. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education 10 (1): 112-116.
Rajula Shanthy T (2010) Participatory varietal selection in sugarcane. SugarTech 12 (1): 51-54.
Rajula Shanthy, T. 2009. Revival of a sick sugar factory. In Inspiring cases of LEISA India Use. AME Foundation, Bangalore.pp.44. p. 14-15 www.lorg
Rajula Shanthy T, Bhaskaran S (2009) Scale to measure labour efficiency of agricultural labourers. Journal of Extension Education 21(4): 4329-4333.
Rajula Shanthy, T. and N. Mukunthan. 2009. SUGAR-EX, an information and communication technology based decision making tool. Sugar Tech. 11(1):69-72.
Rajula Shanthy T, Thiagarajan, R, VasanthaKumar J, Santha Ravichandran (2004) Participatory rural appraisal for improving sugarcane productivity. Journal of Extension Education 15 (2&3): 4491-4495.
Rajula Shanthy T, Perumal G (2001) Involvement of farm women in income generating activities. Journal of Extension Education 12(2): 3150-3152.

BOOKS AUTHORED

Rajula Shanthy T, Anusha S, Geetha P, Tayade AS, Bakshi Ram (2019) Know your weeds in sugarcane. ISBN 978-93-85267-15-4 p. 104.
Rajula Shanthy T, Jayabose C, Bakshi Ram (2018) Tribal Sub Plan initiatives at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute: An extra mile to create a smile. ISBN 978-93-85-26-72-39. pp.20.
Rajula Shanthy T, Bakshi Ram (2018) Frequently Asked Questions in sugarcane cultivation. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore. pp. 32.
Rajula Shanthy T, Bakshi Ram, Alarmelu S, Premachandran MN, Viswanathan R, Palaniswamy C, Bhaskaran C, Geetha N, Malathi P, Jayabose C, Arumuganathan T, Sobhakumari VP (2016) Sugarcane Technologies. Garuda Publications, Coimbatore. ISBN No. 978-93-85267-00-0. pp. 132.
Karpagam, C., P. Murali, A. Bhaskaran, T. Rajula Shanthy and D. Puthira Prathap (2014) An Inventory of Farmers’ Practices for Inclusive Development in Sugarcane Production System. Thannambikai Printers. ISBN 978-81-926387-7-5. pp. 124.
Nair,N,V. T. Rajula Shanthy, P. Rakkiyappan, S. Alarmelu, P. Gopalasundaram, R. Viswanathan, R. Jayanthi and P. Malathi (2011) Sugarcane cultivation (In Tamil). Kalaikathir Printers, Coimbatore ISBN 978-81-904359-3-2. pp. 40.
Rajula Shanthy, T (2011) Strategies for effective transfer of sugarcane technologies. TNAU Press. Coimbatore. pp.98.
Rakkiyappan, P. N. Murugan, P. Gopalasundaram, T. Rajula Shanthy & D.P. Pratap (2009) Modern technologies for achieving higher cane yield in sugarcane (In Tamil) M.R.K. Coop Sugar Mills, Cuddalore district . pp48.

BOOKS EDITED

Kausik P, Chauhan JK, Rajula Shanthy T, Zamir ASK, Vinod K, Shanmugasundaram B, Beena Y, Singh K, Jyothi V. Basunathe VK, Pallavi B (2023). Rural transformation and sustainable agri food system through community based organisation oriented extension strategy. FineGraphics, Agra ISBN 978-81-967860-4-5. pp.490.
Sugarcane based integrated farming system. ISBN 978-93-85267-1.pp. 163.
Recent agricultural technologies (Tamil). 2018. ISBN 978-93-85267-20-8. pp. 118
Scientific sugarcane cultivation. 2015. ISBN 978-93-808002-5-6. PRDAG printers. pp. 125.
Recent technologies for increased sugarcane productivity. 2015. ISBN 978-93-808002-5-7. PRDAG printers. pp. 314
Sugarcane Agriculture. 2014. ISBN 978-81-926387-5-1. pp. 212.
Sugarcane Production Technology. 2009. Kalaikathir Printers, Coimbatore. pp.145