Chairman - Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner
Dr. Abhijit Mitra currently serves as the Animal Husbandry Commissioner at the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India. With a career spanning over 30 years, he is widely recognized for his expertise in Animal Breeding, Genetics research, and Biotechnology, positioning himself as a distinguished leader in the veterinary and animal health sector.
Dr. Mitra's extensive research leadership includes pioneering work in disease resistance genetics, reproductive genomics, and transgenesis(orcid.org/0000-0003-4011-2579, Dr. Abhijit Mitra - Google Scholar). His leadership experience spans key roles as Director of esteemed institutions such as the ICAR-Central Institute of Research on Cattle, Meerut (2020-2022), and the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland (2015-2020). With over two decades of postgraduate teaching experience at the Deemed universities namelyICAR-National Dairy Research Institute(1995-2001)and ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute(2001-2015), Dr. Mitra has mentored and guided numerous doctoral and master's students.
Beyond research, Dr. Mitra has demonstrated an innovative approach to animal welfare, having developed several patented technologies. He played a crucial role in gaining official recognition for the Mithun (Bos frontalis) as a food animal by the FSSAI and promoting semi-intensive mithun rearing practices. His leadership also includes advancing the "cow beyond milk" concept, focusing on conserving and genetically improving India's indigenous cattle breeds.
Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Mitra has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the Chancellor's Gold Medal for his BVSc degree and the Director's Gold Medal for exceptional academic performance during his master's program. His accolades also include the renowned DAAD Doctoral Fellowshipat TUM, Germany, along with multiple post-doctoral fellowships, such as the DST SERC Visiting Fellowship, BOYSCAST Overseas Fellowship (DST) in BARC, USDA, USA, and the NAIP Overseas Fellowshipat Roslin Institute, UK.
Dr. Mitra's exceptional contributions have been recognized through various awards, such as the ICAR Outstanding Multidisciplinary Team Research Award (Team Leader), Eminent Scientist Award, KK Iya Memorial Oration Award, Dr. PG Pandey Oration Award, Dr. Richard Masilomony Oration Award, and the Indian Dairy Association Patronship Award.
He is a Fellow of several prominent academies and professional societies, including the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), National Academy of Veterinary Sciences (India), National Academy of Dairy Science (India), IAAVR, Society of Extension Education (SEE), and the Indian Society of Veterinary Immunology & Biotechnology (ISVIB).
As the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Dr. Mitra also serves as the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of India. He holds prominent leadership roles both nationally and internationally, including Chair of FAO-APCHA (Animal Production and Health Commission in Asia and the Pacific), a body of 18 member countries working to enhance nutrition and improve living standards for livestock communities through sustainable and safe livestock development. He also heads the Regional Advisory Group for PPR Eradication in the SAARC Region and serves as the focal point for Disease Notification, Veterinary Products, and Communication for the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
Recently, Dr. Mitra has spearheaded One Health initiatives in the livestock sector and secured a $25 million G20 Pandemic Fund. He has also been instrumental in shaping policies to mitigate antimicrobial use, establish standard treatment guidelines, prioritizing animal diseases, and enhance vaccination efforts across the country. His strategic leadership underscores his commitment to addressing global challenges at the convergence of animal health, human health, and environmental sustainability.