Dr. Mary Regina F

Joined Kerala Agricultural University as Assistant Professor (Soil and Water Engineering) in 1993 at Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur and served in the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering till 2007. The inspiration and experience gained, as a teacher to undergraduate and post graduate students, were carried over to the research and extension activities undertaken during the last 26 years in Kerala Agricultural University.

As scientist of the Precision Farming Development Centre of the University, from 2004-2007, all possible interventions in research and extension in the field of Precision Farming was attempted in all 14 districts of the State.

As Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Engineering) in Krishi Vigyan Kendra Thrissur, (2007-2016) and Scientist (Soil and Water Engineering) in the AICRP on Water Management at Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy (2017-2018) earnest efforts to form and mobilize labour support groups, propagate the message of need for water management and women empowerment are being made.

Awards and recognitions

• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) fellowship for attending post graduate studies in Water Management in the University of Applied Sciences, Suderberg, Germany
• Best Training Course Director Award of the Kerala Agricultural University for the year 2006-07.
• Fellowship from the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) by the Netherlands Government in 2007.
• JRF in Engg. & Tech., 1999-2000 of the University Grants Commission

Valuable Professional Experiences:                                                                                               

International

• International course on ‘Agricultural Water Use Assessment and Management- an IWRM Perspective’ jointly organized by ALTERRA-ILRI, The Netherlands and ANGRAU, Hyderabad in 2005.
• International Conference on ‘Plasticulture and Precision Farming’ at New Delhi in 2005. 
• International R&D workshop on ‘Agricultural Engineering Technologies’ at Tel Aviv, Israel in 2006
• International course on ‘Agricultural Water Management for Enhancing Water Productivity’ jointly organized by ALTERRA-ILRI, The Netherlands and ANGRAU, Hyderabad in 2007.
• International Course on Land Drainage organized by ALTERRA-ILRI, at Wageningen, The Netherlands in 2007.

National  

• National training course on ‘Application of Electronics in Agricultural Field Investigations’ at Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi, Kerala in 1998.
• National training course on ‘Drainage for Waterlogged Salt Affected Soils’ jointly organized by International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement, The Netherlands and Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana in 1999. 
• National training on ‘GIS based Decision Support Systems for Sustainable Agriculture’ organized by National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad in 2005.
• Information Technology – Image processing at Academic Staff College, University of Calicut in 2005
• Training course on ‘LAN, WAN and latest technologies’ organised by ERNET, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India in 2008

Technologies generated:

• A low cost green house for Kerala - Included in the ‘Package of Practices-Recommendations 2005’ of the Kerala Agricultural University
• An automatic irrigation system for roof terrace vegetable cultivation.

Publications

Published 5 research papers in International journals and 6 papers in national journals, 6 technical booklets on various aspects of agricultural engineering, 12 papers in proceedings of international, national and state level seminars/symposia, and 15 technical articles of extension nature.

Theses / Projects guided:

          Masters Thesis : 3

          Graduate level (B.Tech. Agrl. Engg.): 2       

Principal Investigator of externally funded extension projects:

Associate in Externally funded Projects:

Positions in academic and technical bodies

• Technical expert, Kerala state micro-irrigation committee during 2005-07.
• Member, Technical committee, Mahila Kisan Saktheekaran Paryavaran
• Member, Project Co-ordination Group in Soil and Water Engineering, Kerala Agricultural University

Membership in professional bodies

• Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India)
• Indian Association of  Soil and Water Conservationists

Academic / Professional / Administrative positions held:

• Member, Senate, Calicut University
• Member, General Council, Kerala Agricultural University
• Member, Accounts Committee, Kerala Agricultural University
• Member, Statute Committee, Kerala Agricultural University
• Member, Employees Welfare Committee, Kerala Agricultural University
• Consultant, Kerala Nadi Jala Samrakshana Samithi
• Consultant, Kole Land Development Authority, Kerala
• Consultant, Department of Irrigation, Kerala
• National Consultant in micro-irrigation, precision farming, rain water harvesting and soil conservation.