Dr. D.K. Nagaraju is a distinguished entomologist with over 25 years of expertise in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Plant Quarantine. He holds a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and earned his Ph.D. from Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, for research conducted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore.
Currently serving as Joint Director (Entomology) at the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, Dr. Nagaraju has held key positions across Central IPM Centres and Plant Quarantine Stations throughout India. His extensive field experience is complemented by his role in international phytosanitary diplomacy, having represented India in multiple global delegations.
Dr. Nagaraju is a certified master trainer and auditor under the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS), and a trained auditor for various National Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (NSPM). He is also a qualified Pest Risk Analysis expert and currently serves as a Standards Committee (SC) Member of the Asia Pacific Plant Protection Convention (APPPC) under FAO, as well as a member of the Focus Group on Plant Health in the context of One Health, constituted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
Prior to his tenure at the Directorate, Dr. Nagaraju contributed to research and development at IIHR, UAS Bangalore, and the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco). At Mahyco, he conducted pioneering studies on the Chilli Leaf Curl Complex, TOSPO viruses and their transmission, and gall-inducing insects affecting chilli and brinjal crops.
His impactful work in pest management and biosecurity includes the interception of quarantine pests in imported consignments, development of innovative pest control treatments and traps, and training over 1,000 officers in plant quarantine and IPM techniques. Notably, he was part of the team that developed the Hot Water Immersion Treatment (HWT) for mangoes now widely adopted in mango export protocols and contributed to the creation of Methyl Eugenol-based bottle traps for fruit fly management, a technology embraced by farmers across India and abroad.
Dr. Nagaraju has authored numerous research papers, short communications, popular articles, and book chapters in national and international peer-reviewed journals, further advancing the field of entomology and plant protection.
