Principal
Dr. C. Vanniarajan is a distinguished academician, researcher, and administrator in the field of Plant Breeding and Genetics with more than three decades of dedicated service in agricultural education, research, and innovation. He served as Dean of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and has played a significant role in strengthening academic excellence, research advancement, and entrepreneurship development in agricultural sciences.
An alumnus of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Dr. Vanniarajan completed his B.Sc. (Agri.), M.Sc. (Agri.), and Ph.D. with outstanding academic distinction. He is a recipient of several prestigious university medals, including the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Medal and Dr. K. Ramiah Medal for academic excellence in Plant Breeding and Genetics.
With over 30 years of research experience and 27 years of teaching expertise, he has guided numerous postgraduate and doctoral scholars, contributing significantly to human resource development in agriculture. His areas of specialization include crop improvement, mutation breeding, millet research, biotechnology, and sustainable agricultural development.
Dr. Vanniarajan has contributed to the release of several crop varieties including cotton, blackgram, barnyard millet, cluster bean, and green manure crops, benefiting the farming community through
improved productivity and resilience. He has successfully handled multiple externally funded national research projects supported by organizations such as BRNS, UGC, DST, and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
A strong advocate of innovation and entrepreneurship, he served as Nodal Officer and Director of the Trichy Agri Business Incubation Forum (TABIF), where he facilitated startup development, student entrepreneurship activities, and agribusiness incubation initiatives. Under his leadership, numerous incubates and student startups received guidance and financial support.
His academic contributions include more than 220 research publications, books, and book chapters with high citation impact and recognition at national and international levels. He has represented India in various international scientific programmes and visited countries including the Netherlands, USA, Japan, Austria, and Dubai for advanced research collaborations and training programmes.
Dr. C. Vanniarajan continues to inspire students, researchers, and the farming community through his visionary leadership, commitment to agricultural advancement, and dedication to academic excellence.
