Ashutosh Sarker has more than 35 years of experience in food legume breeding and genetics. As the Coordinator, involved in Planning, Managing and Administering South Asia & China Regional Program (SACRP);  Coordinating ICARDA’s research and development programs including food legumes with  national institutions  of South Asia region; Collaborating with national programs, international organizations, donor community to develop viable research-for-development projects, developing new partnerships; Developing and managing a number of national and international projects in-terms of their implementation, manpower recruitment, budgeting, monitoring of progress, reporting, etc.; Actively engaged in implementation  of CGIAR CRPs (CRP1.1 & CRP 3.5).

Serving as Project Leader of HarvestPlus Challenge Program of CGIAR;

Organizing regional meetings/seminars, training programs, traveling-workshops, participation in national annual research and development planning meetings and establishing regional networks based on common agenda; and Publishing reports, newsletters, scientific papers, brochures, booklets, etc. and airing success stories in national and international media.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

1981-1985. Ph. D. in Plant Breeding & Genetics. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India.

1977-1978. M. Sc. (Ag). in Genetics & Plant Breeding (With distinction), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

1972- 1976. B. Sc. Ag. (Hons.) (With distinction), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

2008-Present: Regional Coordinator, South Asia & China Program & Principal Food Legume Breeder, ICARDA

1996 – 2007: Coordinator- Food Legume Program & Lentil Breeder  at  ICARDA

1983-1995: Project Leader & Senior Food Legume Breeder,  BARI,  Bangladesh

1979-1982: Pulse Breeder, Bangladesh

Crop varieties developed

At the national level

11 varieties in Bangladesh

(Lentil-4 (Uthfala, Barimasur-2, Barimasur-3, Barimasur-4), Blackgram-3 (Barimash-1, Barimash-2 and Barimash-3), Mungbean-2 (Barimug-1 and Barimug-2), and Grasspea-2 (Barikhesari-1 and Barikhesari-2) in Bangladesh)

At the internatinal level

69 lentil varieties released by various national programs. 

  Memembership/Affiliation

Cereals and Legumes Asia Network (CLAN), ICRISAT, India.

Int. Net. for the Improvement of Lathyrus sativus and Eradication of Lathyrism, USA.

Global Grain Legume Drought Research Network (GGLDRN), ICRISAT,  India.

Agronomy Society & Crop Science Society of America, USA

North American Pulses Improvement Association (NAPIA)

National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India

Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science.

Bangladesh Society of Genetics & Plant breeding.

Bangladesh Society of Horticulture.

The Society of Geneticists & Breeders, India.

The Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, India.

Publications

Publication: 218

• Book : 1
• Full paper-132 (referred journal, book chapter, proceedings)
• Bookelet, conference abstracts-71
• Extension bulletin/leaflet/ farmnote- 14 

Awards

2014: Award by the ndian Society of genetics & Plant Breeding, India

2012: Award by the Govt. of Bangladesh for significant contribution in pulses research

2011: Award by the Govt. of Nepal for significant contribution to food and nutritional security          and improved livelioods of Nepalese farmers

2010: Staff of the year for 2009 (P-level for Research Administration) by ICARDA, Syria

2007: Award by the Govt of Bangladesh for contribution to nutritional security through lgume research in Bangladesh

2005: Staff of the Year for 2004 (P- Level -Scientist) by  ICARDA, Syria

2005: Award by the Govt. of Western Australia, Australia

2004: Outstanding scientist award by the Government of Bangladesh.

1981: IDRC, Canada, scholarship award for Ph. D. studies

Hi current research focus on Developing new food legume varieties with adaptation under various cropping systems niches. Farming system approach including all components, crops, livestock-feed fodder. Sustainable cereal based cropping systems including conservation agriculture.