Dr. H. P. Singh, FNAAS
Co-Chairman, Advisory Board
Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI)
Dr. H. P. Singh, FNAAS, is one of India’s foremost horticultural scientists, institution builders, and agricultural policy experts. A former Deputy Director General (Horticulture), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India, he has devoted over four decades to strengthening India’s horticulture sector through scientific innovation, policy leadership, institutional development, and farmer-centric initiatives. Widely regarded as one of the architects of India’s horticultural transformation, he has significantly contributed to enhancing productivity, sustainability, value addition, and global competitiveness in Indian agriculture.
As Co-Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI), Dr. H. P. Singh provides strategic guidance on agricultural development, horticulture, natural resource management, climate-resilient farming, and rural livelihoods. His association with CNRI strengthens the organisation’s mission of empowering grassroots institutions, promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing farmers’ income, and advancing science-led rural development through collaboration between civil society, government, research institutions, and the farming community.
Throughout his distinguished public service career, Dr. Singh has held several of India’s highest positions in agricultural research and administration. Besides serving as Deputy Director General (Horticulture), ICAR, he has been Vice-Chancellor of Rajendra Agricultural University (now Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University), Pusa, Dean, College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Chairman of the Coconut Development Board, Director of the National Research Centre for Banana, and Project Coordinator (Fruits), ICAR. In these roles, he pioneered programmes in precision horticulture, protected cultivation, post-harvest management, biotechnology, micro-irrigation, and integrated value-chain development, leaving a lasting impact on India’s horticultural landscape.
A Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), Dr. Singh has received numerous national and international honours for his outstanding contributions to horticultural science, research management, agricultural education, and institution building. He has authored and edited a large body of scientific literature, mentored generations of researchers, and served on several national policy committees related to agriculture, food security, climate resilience, and natural resource management.
Dr. Singh is also the Founder and Chairman of the Confederation of Horticulture Associations of India (CHAI), an apex platform that brings together horticultural societies, researchers, entrepreneurs, and farmer organisations to promote innovation, policy advocacy, and sustainable horticultural development. Under his leadership, CHAI has emerged as an important forum for advancing scientific collaboration and strengthening India’s horticulture ecosystem.
Within CNRI, Dr. H. P. Singh continues to serve as a respected mentor and thought leader, contributing his vast experience to shaping policies and programmes that integrate scientific research with grassroots development. His vision of sustainable agriculture, rural prosperity, environmental stewardship, and farmer empowerment remains closely aligned with CNRI’s commitment to inclusive and participatory rural development, making him an invaluable member of the organisation’s Advisory Board.
