P.V.K. Sasidhar is a Professor at the School of Extension and Development Studies in IGNOU, New Delhi. He has a PhD in Veterinary Extension from Agricultural University, Hyderabad with first degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. He was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at NAARM, Hyderabad (2002-03), Norman Borlaug Fellow of USDA at Tuskegee University, USA (2008) and USAID Fellow at Michigan State University, USA (2015). 
 

Prior to joining IGNOU, he served in Agricultural Research Service of ICAR at CARI, Izatnagar with Research, Teaching, Extension & Training assignments during 2003-09. In ICAR his primary research accomplishments as team leader were ‘Micro-Level Priority Setting for Poultry Sector in India’, ‘Poultry Science Education & Manpower Planning for Poultry Sector’ and ‘Backyard Poultry for Livelihood Security’.  He has organized two National Seminars under these projects. These projects and seminars are the policy works concerning poultry research, education and extension in India. As faculty member of IVRI during 2003-09, he taught to PG and PhD students and served on 11 students’ advisory committees. 

His research interests centers primarily on Evaluation of Extension Advisory Services, Veterinary Service Delivery and Improving Veterinary Education. He serves on the editorial board of Journal of Agricultural Extension Management and review for a number of other National and International journals. He has more than 200 publications which include research articles, invited papers, abstracts, book chapters, self learning material, outreach articles and edited books. 

He received R&D grants from various National and International organizations and won awards like JRF, SRF, 4 Young Scientist Awards and Norman Borlaug International Agricultural Science & Technology Fellows Award of USDA. He served as member in Sub-Group on ‘HRD, Training and Accreditation’ of India’s Planning Commission for the XII Five Year Plan.

Most recent collaborative research works with Michigan State University / University of Edinburgh / OIE:

·        Integrated Contract Broiler Farming – An Evaluation Case Study in India (2015) (Funded by USAID)

·        Assessment of Core Competencies of Livestock Extension Professionals in India (2016) (Funded by USAID)

·        Strengthening Agricultural Extension Training in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka and Nepal)-Process Skills and Competency Gaps in Undergraduate Agricultural Extension Curriculum (2020) (Funded by US Department of State under Fulbright programme)

·        Strengthening Agricultural Extension Training in the MSU-Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) Consortium Partners in Africa - Process Skills and Competency Gaps in Undergraduate Agricultural Extension Curriculum in Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa (2023) (Funded by Alliance for African Partnership – AAP, Michigan State University).

·        PVS Follow-up Evaluation of the Veterinary Services of Cambodia (2018) (Authorized and funded by OIE, Paris).

·        PG Diploma in Animal Welfare (2020) (In collaboration with University of Edinburgh).

His research work covers India, USA, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa.

In IGNOU, he organized two DFID funded policy workshops, prepared 95 units of Self Learning Material for various Open and Distance Learning programmes and supervised seven PhD students. He is coordinating: MA in Development Studies; MA in Corporate Social Responsibility; PG Diploma in Development Studies; PG Diploma in Urban Planning and Development; PG Diploma in Animal Welfare, and; PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. He can be contacted at: pvksasidhar@ignou.ac.in / +91-9910050413.