Project Assistant at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, India
Nikita Kankanawadi is an accomplished agricultural professional specializing in sericulture, with a strong foundation in scientific research, technology integration, and sustainable farming practices. Her academic journey and practical exposure have shaped her expertise in silkworm breeding, disease management, and mulberry cultivation. She has participated in prestigious international and national training programs, enhancing her skills in smart agriculture and entrepreneurship. Nikita’s passion for innovation in agriculture is evident from her active involvement in conferences, workshops, and research projects. She combines scientific rigor with practical field knowledge, contributing meaningfully to advancements in sericulture and related agricultural domains.
Professional Profile
ORCID
Education
Nikita holds an M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Sericulture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, where she developed advanced expertise in silkworm biology, breeding, and disease resistance. She earned her B.Sc. (Agriculture) from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, building a solid foundation in crop sciences, pest management, and sustainable farming. Her early academic journey at renowned institutions instilled a deep commitment to agricultural innovation. Complementing her formal education, she engaged in specialized training programs, enhancing her technical knowledge in AI applications, biotechnology, and agribusiness strategies, further preparing her for impactful contributions to agricultural research and development.
Professional Experience
Nikita has gained extensive practical experience through rural agricultural work, agro-industrial attachments, and research collaborations. She has worked directly with farmers to evaluate high-temperature and disease-tolerant silkworm hybrids across multiple districts in Karnataka. Her fieldwork included assessing raw silk quality, analyzing reeling performance, and addressing sericulture challenges at the grassroots level. Nikita’s professional exposure spans international training in Finland, where she learned smart agriculture technologies, and diverse national-level programs focusing on livestock, aquaculture, and sustainable farming. Her ability to bridge academic research with field application makes her a valuable contributor to agricultural development initiatives.
Research Interest
Nikita’s research interests encompass silkworm breeding, disease resistance, mulberry improvement, and value-added products from sericulture. She is particularly fascinated by integrating biotechnology, molecular biology, and artificial intelligence into sericulture for yield enhancement and disease control. Her work also explores the potential of mulberry leaves in herbal products, sustainable cocoon production, and women’s empowerment in sericulture. She is committed to advancing eco-friendly, high-quality silk production methods and promoting sericulture as a sustainable livelihood option. Her research vision aligns with bridging traditional practices and modern innovations to create resilient and profitable sericulture systems for future generations.
Award and Honor
Nikita’s dedication to excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including the Best Poster Presenter Award during UASB Science Week 2024 and the Best M.Sc. Thesis Award by the Green Plant Agrotec Foundation. She topped NPTEL courses in Nanotechnology in Agriculture, earning a Gold Medal, and in Soil Science and Technology, receiving a Silver Medal. She was awarded the Dr. H. R. Arakeri Merit Scholarship and successfully qualified for the UGC-National Eligibility Test in December 2024. Her achievements reflect her commitment to academic and professional excellence, innovative thinking, and impactful contributions to agricultural research and education.
Research Skill
Nikita possesses strong research skills, including experimental design, field trials, laboratory analysis, and statistical evaluation. She has expertise in silkworm rearing, hybrid evaluation, disease diagnosis, and quality assessment of cocoons and raw silk. Her proficiency extends to mulberry germplasm evaluation, gene action studies, and biochemical analyses. She is adept at scientific writing, having authored original research papers, review articles, and popular publications. Additionally, she is skilled in data interpretation, use of AI tools in agriculture, and the preparation of value-added sericulture products. Her blend of technical competence and creative problem-solving enhances the depth and applicability of her research.
Publications
Nikita has made significant scholarly contributions through original research articles, review papers, and popular articles. Her research covers areas such as high-temperature and disease-tolerant silkworm hybrids, mulberry leaf utilization, genetic variability studies, and women’s participation in sericulture. She has published reviews on biotechnological advances, hormonal regulation in silkworms, and medicinal properties of mulberry. Her popular writings highlight contemporary issues and opportunities in sericulture, such as space-based silk production, Ahimsa silk, and sustainable livelihoods. These publications demonstrate her ability to address both scientific and societal aspects of agriculture, making her work relevant to academia, industry, and rural communities.
Kankanawadi, N., Veenita, M. K., Shwetha, G. V., Aramani, K., Sindhu, G. S., & Tejaswini, A. S. (2025). 20-Hydroxyecdysone in silkworm biology: Molecular mechanisms of biosynthesis, development and biotechnological applications. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology.
Field evaluation of new bivoltine silkworm foundation crosses tolerant to high temperature and muscardine disease.
Reeling and raw silk assessment of new double hybrids tolerant to high temperature and muscardine disease at Central Silk Technological Research Institute.
Women's participation and constraints in sericulture: A study from Karnataka, India.
Conclusion
Nikita Kankanawadi’s journey reflects a harmonious blend of academic excellence, field expertise, and research innovation in agriculture, particularly sericulture. Her contributions extend beyond laboratory and fieldwork to encompass community engagement, women’s empowerment, and sustainable agricultural practices. With a strong record of publications, awards, and professional training, she is well-positioned to influence the future of silk production and mulberry-based innovations. Her vision is to advance sericulture through modern science while preserving its traditional roots, ensuring it remains a viable, profitable, and environmentally friendly enterprise for generations to come.