Diversification of Arid Farming Systems

Dr. M.P. Singh, Head of the Department of Forest Sciences, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (Jharkhand) earned his mater's degree in Botany with specialization in Taxonomy and after his PH.D degree in Floristic from Patna University and Diploma in Forestry from Forest Research Institute, Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, Dehradun. He is a fellow in Life Sciences of Mendelian Society of India, Patna. Besides teaching Dr. Singh has been engaged with independent research in Project of Government of India as Principal investigator. He is noted Taxonomist of the country and have about twenty one years of long experiences. He is an advisor to the Government of India for whole Eastern Region on Horistic research and member of FLORA INDIA. He is the Editor of Journal "New Botanist" for forestry sector. He has published eight books in Botany, Forestry and on Environmental Sciences and also published eighty five research papers in National/International Journals. He has also guided a number of Scholar for award of Ph. D. degree in Botany as well as in Forestry. He is one of the member of Botanical Survey of India in a Research Selection Committee. He has extensively travelled in India and abroad in conection to floristic studies.

Praveen Kumar is a police officer and a prolific writer on police and policing subjects. His articles on this and other subjects were published in prominent national dailies like The Hindu, The Indian Express, The Times of India and Deccan Herald and English periodicals like Alive and The Indian Journal of Criminology And Criminalistics of MHA, GOI, Delhi. Some of his articles on the sad state of affairs in and the need of restructuring of The Union Public Service Commission and the civil services have become national sensations and helped awakening from the deep slumber of complacency. He has four books of verse to his credit, two in English and two in Kannada. He has given several programmes as poet in Dooradarshan. Born in the port city of Mangalore as the eldest son of Shree R.D. Suvarna and Smt. B. Sarojini, he presently lives in Bangalore withwife Smt. Jayashree Praveenkumar, and son, Pratheek Praveenkumar.