Mr. Rocktim Baruah | Horticulture | Best Extension Activity Award

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Golaghat India

Rocktim Baruah, currently serving as a Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Baksa, Assam Agricultural University, is a committed agricultural scientist focusing on rural upliftment through innovative horticultural interventions. He completed his B.Sc. (Agriculture) in 2018 and M.Sc. (Agriculture) in 2020, both with distinction from Assam Agricultural University. He qualified the ICAR-SRF and briefly pursued research at GB Pant University before joining AAU’s KVK system in 2022. With key roles in nationally and internationally funded projects, he is actively promoting high-value crops like dragon fruit, strawberries, and biofortified vegetables. He has authored books, published research, and developed successful on-ground demonstrations impacting farmers’ livelihoods. As a life member of the Society for Horticultural Research and Development, his mission is to strengthen food security and enhance farmer incomes through need-based training, disease-resistant varieties, and entrepreneurship support. His practical, grassroots-level initiatives reflect a strong commitment to agricultural extension and community empowerment.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education 

Rocktim Baruah earned his B.Sc. (Agriculture) from the College of Agriculture, Jorhat, under Assam Agricultural University in 2018 with an impressive CGPA of 8.14 and distinction. Building upon his academic excellence, he pursued M.Sc. (Agriculture) from the same university, graduating with distinction in 2020. His commitment to higher education was further evident when he cleared the prestigious ICAR-SRF and joined GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology to pursue advanced research. Throughout his academic journey, Rocktim demonstrated a strong foundation in agricultural sciences with a special interest in horticulture and rural development. His academic background equipped him with the technical know-how and field knowledge to implement transformative agricultural extension strategies. With hands-on experiences in both research and community engagement, his education provided the platform for launching various high-impact projects in Assam’s farming districts. His educational journey reflects consistent academic performance, scientific rigor, and a practical orientation toward improving rural livelihoods.

💼 Experience 

Rocktim Baruah began his professional journey in 2022 as a Subject Matter Specialist (Horticulture) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Baksa under Assam Agricultural University. Since then, he has played a pivotal role in multiple agricultural extension and research initiatives targeting farmer welfare and community development. His responsibilities include implementing frontline demonstrations, conducting need-based training programs, and facilitating on-farm testing of advanced technologies. He has also been a key player in several government and internationally funded projects, including DBT’s Biotech-Kisan Hub and TERI’s agroforestry initiatives. As the Nodal Officer and Associated Scientist, he guided programs on mushroom cultivation, agroforestry, and regenerative agriculture, contributing directly to livelihood enhancement. Rocktim’s field experience extends to empowering entrepreneurs, introducing disease-resistant varieties, and promoting biofortified crops. His dynamic engagement with the farming community, along with his ability to translate research into practice, has made him an effective agent of rural transformation. His service continues to positively impact farmer productivity and income.

🏅 Awards and Honors 

Rocktim Baruah has consistently demonstrated excellence in academics and extension work, earning accolades throughout his academic and professional journey. He graduated with distinction in both B.Sc. and M.Sc. (Agriculture), highlighting his strong academic commitment. He cleared the competitive ICAR-SRF examination, marking him among the top agricultural scholars in the country. Professionally, he has been entrusted with leading roles in prestigious national projects funded by DBT and TERI, indicating the trust placed in his capabilities by reputed institutions. His publications include two ISBN-registered books focusing on district-level entrepreneurship and resource inventory, further emphasizing his contribution to knowledge dissemination. His achievements include successful dissemination of biofortified crop varieties and setting up livelihood programs that reached a wide community base. He holds life membership in the Society for Horticultural Research and Development. These recognitions and roles reflect not only his scientific aptitude but also his commitment to rural development and impactful field-based interventions.

🔬 Research Focus 

Rocktim Baruah’s research focuses on empowering rural communities through the introduction of high-value horticultural crops such as exotic fruits (dragon fruit, strawberry), biofortified vegetables, and ornamental flowers. His work emphasizes sustainable livelihood generation by integrating scientific innovation with grassroots needs. He actively engages in field-level interventions through projects funded by national and international agencies like DBT and TERI. His research also targets disease-resistant varieties in crops like tomato and chilli, reducing input costs and improving yield. Rocktim has a strong interest in agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and mushroom-based rural entrepreneurship, aiming to boost food security and income diversification. He combines research with extension by conducting need-based training, technology demonstrations, and vocational skill development. His projects have significantly influenced horizontal adoption of technologies across farming communities, particularly in Assam’s Baksa district. Rocktim’s approach blends scientific research with social innovation, ensuring that his contributions benefit both academic circles and the communities he serves.

📝 Conclusion

Mr. Rocktim Baruah demonstrates a strong alignment with the values and goals of the Best Extension Activity Award through his grassroots involvement, farmer-oriented interventions, and passion for horticultural advancement. His practical contributions, capacity-building efforts, and effective coordination of extension projects highlight his significant role in improving rural livelihoods in Assam. With further emphasis on impact documentation and academic dissemination, he holds immense potential to be a leading figure in agricultural extension. Therefore, he is a deserving and highly recommended candidate for this recognition.

Publication

1. Title: Entrepreneurs of Baksa District
   Year: 2025
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Book
   ISBN: 978-93-342-2520-4

 

1. Title: Recycling Horticultural Waste into Animal Feed
   Year: 2025
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Magazine Article (Agriculture and Food: E-Newsletter)
   ISSN: 2581-8317

 

1. Title: Performance Evaluation of Lakhimi Cattle under Traditional Rearing System of Assam
   Year: 2024
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Journal Article
   ISSN: 0973-2004

 

1. Title: Resource Inventory of Baksa District
   Year: 2024
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Book
   ISBN: 978-93-6076-296-4

 

1. Title: Evaluation of Biofortified Sweet Potato Varieties for Their Growth, Yield and Economic Performance under Assam Condition
   Year: 2024
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah, Nishita Pathak, Manoranjan Neog, Utpal Jyoti Sarma
   Type: Journal Article (Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology)
   DOI: 10.9734/ajaees/2024/v42i52441
   ISSN: 2320-7027

 

1. Title: Homolomena aromatica – A Commercially Exploited Plant from Natural Habitat
   Year: 2023
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Magazine Article (Agri Mirror: Future India)
   ISSN: 2582-6980

 

1. Title: High Value Horticulture Crops: An Intervention for Economic Upliftment of Farmers
   Year: 2023
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Magazine Article (Agriculture and Food: E-Newsletter)
   ISSN: 2581-8317

 

1. Title: Millets: From “Poor Man’s Cereal” to “Smart Food”
   Year: 2023
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Magazine Article (Agriculture and Food: E-Newsletter)
   ISSN: 2581-8317

 

1. Title: Evaluation of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) Cultivars for Performance and Correlation in Vegetative, Floral and Multiplication Characters under Paired-Row System
   Year: 2022
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah, Sunil Bora
   Type: Journal Article (Current Horticulture)
   DOI: 10.5958/2455-7560.2022.000097
   ISSN: 2347-7377 / 2455-7560

 

1. Title: Natural Farming – The Next Green Revolution?
   Year: 2022
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Magazine Article (Agriculture and Environment: E-Newsletter)

 

1. Title: Growth Performance of Some Gladiolus Cultivars in Paired Row System
   Year: 2020
   Contributors: Rocktim Baruah
   Type: Dissertation or Thesis