Pragat Shikshan Sanstha

Dr. Chanda Nimbkar has a Ph.D. in ‘Farm animal breeding and genetics’ from the University of New England, Australia. She is the Director of the Animal Husbandry Division (AHD) of the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Phaltan,Maharashtra. Her team of dedicated workers is engaged in projects for genetic improvement of local goats and sheep which are reared mainly by the poorer sections of rural society. 

The AHD which was started in 1990 by the founder of NARI Mr. B.V. Nimbkar has many outstanding achievements to its credit. Briefly they are,

• - Development of the NARI Suwarna strain of Deccani sheep which have >50% twins compared to the Deccani which nearly always have singles. 

• - Dissemination of the Southern African Boer breed of meat goat (considered to be the world’s best meat goat breed) and the Middle Eastern Damascus breed of dual purpose goat through crossbreeding of small-holders’ goats. 

• - Establishing the technology of artificial insemination in goats using frozen buck semen. This technology became necessary as there is a severe shortage of good quality breeding bucks in villages.

• - Training of farmers and professionals in goat management and artificial insemination.

• - Publication of information booklets on goat and sheep management in easy Marathi.

Dr. Nimbkar s team won the 2007 award for ‘Science and Technology Innovation for Rural Development’ given by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of the Government of India. 

Dr. Nimbkar won the ‘Illustrious Alumnus Award’ for 2011 from her college, the Ness Wadia College of Commerce in Pune, where she studied for her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Along with being the researcher in animal genetics Dr. Nimbkar also works as a reviewer of papers submitted to several international scientific journals.

Dr. Nimbkar has her own farm where she grows grain, fruits and trees using as little chemicals as possible. Her favourite recreation is reading, watching movies, trekking and bird watching.