Jai Rana

Dr. Jai Rana is Senior Scientist and Country Representative for India office of the Alliance since 2017. He is currently affiliated to the CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group, Lever 4 on agrobiodiversity and nature + initiative. He holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding and Post Doctorate in Molecular Plant Breeding.
His area of research primarily focuses on enhancing adaptive management of crop diversity for resilient agriculture and improved livelihoods through strengthening crowd sourcing (putting landraces/ farmers varieties and modern varieties together and allow need based participatory selection), local seed supply systems, establishment of community genebanks, seed fairs, field evaluation trials and demonstrations that enable farmers to benefit from diversity rich solutions.
This also includes identification of suitable crop diversity to address such challenges, improved awareness and information on varietal adaptation based on scientifically sound evidence and its validation by farmers and communities. It also aims to increase farmers’ access to crop genetic resources, so that farmers benefit from having locally adapted materials in population sizes large enough to buffer against change in climate and other factors and ensure sustainable agriculture. Prior to Bioversity International Jai worked with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Delhi for >29 years and was engaged in the management of plant genetic resources. He has released 13 varieties and one mutant for commercial cultivation of different crops. Secured six US patents, registered 26 genetic stocks, and 6 farmer’s varieties.
He has published research papers in peer reviewed national and international journals (186), popular articles (14), book chapters (40), bulletins (06), and books authored (04). Jai has received several awards and fellowships such as MS Swaminathan National Award for outstanding Research on Hill Agriculture, RB Ekbote National Prize , Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Society of Genetic and Plant Breeding, Plant Genetic Resources, ICAR-UNDP Fellowship; Post Doc Fellowship of MHRD; best publication award, technical expert member on agrobiodiversity to >30 institutions.
He is a proud father to a daughter and one son and husband to a beautiful wife. He enjoys action and thriller movies, playing badminton and the occasional single malt in his downtime.