Aspee Alumni Association

About the Association

A Community Born from Purpose

Ever since the Junior and Senior fellowship programme was launched by the Aspee Foundation, a large number of students have been the beneficiaries of these fellowships, which have helped needy students from all over the country to pursue higher studies in M.Sc (Agri.) and PhD. An Association of the past Aspee Fellowship holders has been formed and named as “Aspee Alumni Association (AAA)”.

The Association was formally inaugurated at the hands of the world-renowned scientist Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, on 23rd December, 2000. The AAA has given a platform for our Ex-Alumni for interaction and also to extend a helping hand to the needy.

During the last 53 years or so, the Aspee Foundation financed a total of 910 fellowships, of which 610 were Junior Fellowships to M.Sc (Agri.) and M.Tech Agril. Engg) students and 125 were Senior Fellowships to PhD students in various branches of agriculture and agricultural engineering. It also financed 125 Research Projects and conducted 110 collaborative research projects in the discipline of Agricultural Engineering

Aspee Alumni Success Stories

Today our Aspee Alumni are making noteworthy contributions to diverse areas like science and technology, various industries, educational institutions, banks, government departments, etc., both in the country and abroad. A few examples are as under :

Senior Fellowship - 1978

Dr. Jayantilal D. Patel

Ph.D. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Presently Working As:

Plant Breeder - Research Leadership

Canola Research, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., Canada

Achievements:

2006: Plant Breeder of the year Award by the Canadian Seed Trade Association

2008: Hennery Wallace Revolution Impact Award in agriculture, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. for direct contribution in developing canola hybrids.

2009: Boton-Carother Innovative Science Award, DuPont. - for developing hybrid canola.

M.Tech Fellowship · 1993

Dr. Sreekala Bajwa

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Presently Working As:

Dr. Bajwa is the vice president for agriculture, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station at Montana State University. Bajwa is a fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.[1] She is recognised nationally and internationally for her work in the areas of remote sensing, precision agriculture for crop and soil management, and her use of agricultural byproducts in biocomposites

Achievements:

2008: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Outstanding Agricultural Engineer, Arkansas Section, 2008

2007: AMA-SHIN NORINSHA-AAAE Young Researcher Award from AAAE, 2007

Professor & Chair, Department of Agricultural & Bio-systems Engineering, North Dakota State University, North Dakota, USA.

2022: Bajwa is the recipient of the 2022 Cyrus Hall McCormick-Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal for exceptional and meritorious engineering achievements in agriculture from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and in the 2019 James R. and Karen A. Gilley Award for Academic Leadership from ASABE

Junior Fellowship - 1999

Dr. Alka Singh

aster's in Horticulture from Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat

Presently Working As:

Principal & Dean at ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat

Achievements:

Visiting Fellow: International Food Policy and Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington DC, USA (2011).

International Collaboration: Team member of the JICA-sponsored Japan-Southwest Asia Programme (2001).

Publications & Metrics:She holds an h-index of 17 and an i10 index of 36, having published extensively in her field.

Community Initiatives: At NAU, she actively directs programs benefiting local farming communities—such as SCSP schemes for tuber crop cultivation and vocational training (Mali Talim)—along with promoting innovations like natural flower-based herbal colours.

Young Scientist Award 2017: by IJTA and Serial Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

2017: All India Best Publication Award 2017 by the Society for Advancement of Human and Nature, Nauni, Solan, HP.

M.Tech Fellowship · 1989

Dr. B. D. Ghugare

Dr. B.D. Ghugare was awarded the M.Tech. Fellowship in 1989 while pursuing his higher studies at Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth.

Following the successful completion of his M.Tech. degree, Dr. Ghugare further advanced his academic and research career by obtaining a Ph.D., demonstrating his commitment to excellence in agricultural Engineering.

His long and meritorious career culminated in his retirement as an Associate Professor from the university. During his tenure, he earned the respect of colleagues, students, and the farming community for his

Dr. Ghugare dedicated himself to teaching, research and the advancement of Agricultural Engineering at Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth. Over the years, he played an important role in mentoring students, guiding research activities and contributing to the development of agriculture through academic and extension services.

Junior Fellowship - 1977-78

Dr. Anil G. Powar

Dr. Powar was awarded the prestigious Junior Fellowship during 1977–78, recognizing his academic merit and potential in the field of Agricultural Entomology. He pursued higher studies in Agricultural Entomology at the renowned Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

In recognition of his exemplary service and leadership, Dr. Powar progressed through several senior management positions and ultimately retired as Senior Vice President – Technical & Business Development at Indofil Industries Limited. His career stands as a testament to perseverance, professional excellence, and lifelong dedication to agriculture and crop protection.

Throughout his tenure, Dr. Powar played a vital role in:

  • Promoting modern crop protection technologies and best agricultural practices.
  • Strengthening technical support systems for farmers and channel partners.
  • Expanding business development initiatives across diverse agricultural regions.
  • Facilitating the introduction and adoption of innovative agrochemical products.
  • Contributing to strategic growth initiatives within the organization.
  • Building strong relationships between industry, researchers, extension workers, and the farming community.

ASPEE Alumni Connect

Celebrating Your Success • Strengthening Our Legacy

Once an ASPEE Fellow, Always a Part of the ASPEE Family

The ASPEE Agricultural Research & Development Foundation had the privilege of supporting your academic journey through its Junior and Senior Fellowship Programme. We take immense pride in the achievements of our alumni, many of whom have gone on to hold distinguished positions and make significant contributions in their respective fields.

As a valued member of the ASPEE family, we would like to reconnect with you and update our Alumni Database. Your information will help us strengthen our alumni network, foster meaningful engagement, and showcase the accomplishments of our fellowship recipients.

We would be grateful if you could kindly provide the following details:

Present Address
Contact Details
Academic & Professional Information
JPG, JPEG, PNG or WEBP. Maximum size: 2 MB.
Your Thoughts on ASPEE

Thank you for taking the time to stay connected with the ASPEE family. We look forward to celebrating your achievements and strengthening our alumni network for future generations.