Vice Chancellor's Message
"The true spirit of the University has been to recognize the reward of excellence in Education, Research and Development with a firm, fair and fatherly attitude towards its students."
Profile
Dr. M. V. Dhananjaya, Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding) at the ICAR–Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, is one of India’s leading horticultural scientists, innovators and institutional leaders. With nearly 30 years of distinguished service, he has made remarkable contributions to horticultural research, plant breeding, seed systems, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship development and institutional management, benefiting farmers, startups and the horticulture sector across the country
His outstanding contributions have been recognized through the prestigious Dr. M.H. Marigowda National Endowment Award (2022–23) and the Dr. Kalayya Krishnamurthy National Award (2023–24). He has been honoured 14 times for excellence in research, teaching and extension, and has been nominated on six occasions by the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka to the Expert Scrutiny Committees for the conferment of Honorary Doctorates in leading universities, including UAS Bengaluru, UAS Dharwad, UAS Raichur, KSNUAHS Shivamogga and Tumkur University.
Dr. Dhananjaya has developed and released 18 horticultural varieties, including ‘Arka Shreyas’, India’s first Gummy Stem Blight-resistant bottle gourd variety, ‘Arka Savi’, a high-yielding floribunda rose, and ‘Arka Parimala’, a value-added rose tea variety that has created new livelihood opportunities for women entrepreneurs. His scientific accomplishments also include five PPV&FRA-protected varieties, 19 germplasm registrations with NBPGR, research projects worth nearly ₹29 crore, mobilization of over ₹12 crore through CSR initiatives, publication of more than 100 research papers, seven books, 19 book chapters, 102 educational videos, and guidance to numerous M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholars.
As CEO of BESST-HORT (NIDHI Technology Business Incubator, Government of India), Dr. M. V. Dhananjaya has built one of India’s leading agri-startup ecosystems, achieving a turnover of ₹17.05 crore, supporting more than 100 startups, conducting 93 Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, training over 3,500 entrepreneurs, facilitating ₹14 crore in government support, creating infrastructure worth ₹7 crore, and establishing strategic partnerships with ONDC, GeM, HOPCOMS, BigHaat, AIMKART, India Post and HDFC Bank. His initiatives have expanded ICAR-IIHR technologies across 65,658 hectares, promoting technology commercialization, women entrepreneurship and innovation-led agricultural enterprises. As Nodal Officer of the ICAR-IIHR Vegetable Seed Unit, he modernized India’s public seed delivery system through online seed portals, digital marketing, seed vending machines, participatory seed production and partnerships with the National Seed Corporation and State Governments, resulting in the production and marketing of 84.9 tonnes of vegetable seeds, distribution of 1.59 lakh vegetable kits, and generation of over ₹20.73 crore in revenue, significantly strengthening national seed security
A visionary administrator, Dr. Dhananjaya has successfully organized the National Horticulture Fairs (2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025), international conferences, seminars, workshops and Krishi Melas, mobilizing ₹3.45 crore in sponsorships while promoting technology dissemination and farmer outreach. Notably, NHF–2021, conducted in a hybrid (offline and virtual) mode under the theme “Start-Up & Stand-Up India,” mobilized ₹100.35 lakh, showcased 257 technologies and 200 educational videos in 11 languages, hosted 11 technical sessions involving 22 institutions, 721 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and 600 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), facilitated seven MoUs, and achieved a global outreach of 5.72 million participants across 12 countries, setting new benchmarks in digital agricultural extension and technology transfer.
Internationally, he has represented India as Chairman and Speaker at the Asian Solanaceous and Cucurbit Round Table (APSA), Bangkok, chaired international scientific sessions, served on several national expert committees and statutory bodies, and continues to provide leadership in horticultural research, seed systems, innovation, startup incubation and agricultural policy. Through his pioneering work, Dr. M. V. Dhananjaya continues to make a lasting contribution towards building a self-reliant, sustainable and globally competitive Indian horticulture sector
Dr. M. V. Dhananjaya
Vice Chancellor
Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga is the only integrated university in Karnataka established during 2013 having main campus at Iruvakki located in the midst of United Nations’ – World Heritage Centre. It has jurisdiction of seven districts viz.,Chikkamagalur, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Kodagu, Shivamogga and Udupi. As per mandate, it is imparting education in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry sciences and carrying out research, and extension activities for the benefit of regional farmers in particular and farming community in general.
The University has a vision to transform itself into the “Light house of Knowledge” by providing the best professional education and consultancy, R&D solutions, addressing key issues, confronting the sector growth and achieve excellence with quality outputs in frontier areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and allied Sciences, contract services in public and private domains at National and International level. The constituent Colleges have been accredited by ICAR for a period of five years upto March 2026.
Upto 2024, a total of 3809 students have graduated and out of which 2872 undergraduates in Agriculture (986), Horticulture (1278) and Forestry (608), and 840 students have Master’s and 97 Ph.D. degrees through its four constituent colleges spread over the jurisdiction. Further, 582 students have completed Diploma (Agriculture) from the University. So far, 114 & 14 students have secured ICAR JRF & SRF, respectively. Students & faculty have visited institutions abroad Under IDP project funded by World Bank and ICAR. Also, the University has recently started Certificate Courses in different disciplines.
Research activities have been carried out through 14 Agriculture and Horticulture Research Stations, Zonal Research Stations and Main Agril.Research Station. University has MoUs with national & international institutions for overall development of stakeholders. Obtained patent for an invention entitled Method of invitro androgenesis for production of double haploids in Chill (Capsicum annuum) (Patent number 468204), Mini Handoperated Groundnut Sheller for 20 years (Patent number 488359) and three patents have been filed. University has 1544 projects worth Rs. 196 crores funded from national/international organizations. Technologies developed in Paddy 12, Tobacco, Arecanut & Cowpea, one each. Developed 20 Farm Machineries; 98 in Crop Production/Protection, Horticulture, Fisheries & Food Sciences and Nutrition Technologies. Developed and commercialized Sahyadri Noni herbal Dip tea technology and Sahyadri Siri Coffee Leaf Beverage Instant Dip Sachet technology. So far, produced and distributed 529.12 tonnes of seeds & planting materials and 388 tonnes bio-agents, bio-fertilizers to keep ecosystem eco-friendly.
The University is linking farmers by extension services through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Extension Education Units. University is reaching around 4 lakh farmers in a year through capacity building, on-farm testing ,Demonstrations, Method Demonstrations, Vocational and Skill oriented training programmes, etc. Regularly organizes Krishi-Totagarika Mela exhibiting advances in agricultural technologies to farmers and other stakeholders. University is publishing bi-monthly Negila Miditha magazine for stakeholders.
The true spirit of the University has been proud to recognize the reward of excellence in Education, Research and development with a firm, fair and fatherly attitude towards its students. With this spirit, KSNUAHS, Shivamogga has become an island of excellence and ocean of knowledge where each student feels privileged to be part of it.
