Virender Kumar

Virender is a senior scientist specializing in Weed Science/Systems Agronomy at IRRI. He leads the Adaptive Agronomy and Pest Ecology Cluster of the Sustainable Impact Platform and coordinates IRRI’s Direct-Seeded Rice Consortium.

Virender’s research-for-development program is focused on developing and catalyzing adoption of (1) sustainable and profitable integrated weed management for rice-based systems, (2) resource-efficient sustainable alternatives to puddled transplanted rice (e.g. low-risk mechanized and precise DSR) for economic and environmental sustainability, and (3) sustainable intensification of rice-based systems through cropping systems design to build resilience, enhance profitability, and permit diversification.

Prior to joining IRRI, he has worked with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Virender holds a PhD in Weed Science from Cornell University. He did his Masters in Agronomy with specialization in Weed Science from CCS Haryana Agricultural University in India. Virender has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed international journals.