Dr. K. Venkatesan, Ph.D., is the Dean (Horticulture) at the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. He previously served as Head of the Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar and Head of the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops at TNAU. He has blushed over 73 research papers, authored 10 books and guided several PhD. and Postgraduate students. His research focuses on vegetables, spices and tuber crops, leading to six crop varieties. He has organized farmer training and outreach prorammes benefiting 3,000 farmers and received the TNAU Best Researcher Award and Best Scientist Award (IARA).