Date of Birth: 4 May 1971
Birthplace: Pachkodiya village, Jaipur district, Rajasthan
Current Position: Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Term Start: 21 April 2025
🎓 Education
Dr. Mangi Lal Jat holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. in Agronomy from agricultural institutions in Rajasthan. He earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. His doctoral research focused on soil moisture conservation techniques in rainfed pearl millet systems.
🧪 Professional and Research Career
Dr. Jat has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural research, particularly in agronomy, sustainable farming systems, conservation agriculture, and climate-resilient technologies.
He began his professional career as a Systems Agronomist with ICAR, where he served for 12 years. He then went on to hold senior research and leadership positions at several global agricultural research organizations:
- ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics): Served as Deputy Director General and Global Research Programme Director (Resilient Farm and Food Systems).
- CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) and IRRI (International Rice Research Institute): Contributed to global agricultural innovation and smallholder farming systems in Asia and Africa.
🏛️ Appointment as Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR
On 17 April 2025, Dr. Jat was appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education. He assumed charge on 21 April 2025 and concurrently became the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing agricultural research and education in India.
His tenure is for a period of three years.
🌾 Contributions and Recognition
Dr. Jat is recognized for his pioneering work in:
- Conservation agriculture
- Climate-smart and regenerative farming
- Sustainable intensification of smallholder systems
- Integration of digital technologies into agriculture
- International collaboration in agri-research
He has received multiple honors including the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
📝 Summary
Dr. Mangi Lal Jat is a globally respected agricultural scientist and policymaker, known for bridging scientific innovation with grassroots implementation. As Secretary of DARE and DG of ICAR, he plays a pivotal role in steering India’s agricultural research and education ecosystem toward sustainability, resilience, and technological advancement.