Nanita Bora | Sericulture | Women Researcher Award

Young professional-II at Assam Agricultural University | India

Nanita Bora is a dedicated academic and professional in the field of sericulture, contributing significantly to research, teaching, and extension activities. With a strong academic foundation in sericulture and textile design, she has built a career focused on promoting sustainable practices and innovations in sericulture. Her experiences span both practical fieldwork and academic teaching, making her a versatile professional. She has actively participated in national and international conferences, showcasing her commitment to advancing agricultural sciences. Through her research, publications, and professional engagements, she continues to inspire and support the development of the sericulture sector in India.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education

Nanita Bora pursued her Bachelor of Science in Sericulture from Assam Agricultural University, where she graduated with distinction. She continued her academic journey by completing a Master of Science in Sericulture, further enhancing her expertise in the field. Alongside her core studies, she also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications and a Diploma in Textile Designing, which broadened her interdisciplinary skills. Her educational background reflects a blend of scientific knowledge, technical proficiency, and creative aptitude, equipping her with the necessary tools to contribute to both academic and industrial aspects of sericulture and allied sciences.

Professional Experience

Nanita Bora has accumulated rich professional experience in the field of sericulture through various roles. She began her career as a Sericulture Facilitator under the Directorate of Sericulture, Assam, where she engaged in field activities such as establishing and maintaining kesseru fields and supporting eri silkworm rearing projects. Later, she joined Assam Agricultural University as a Young Professional-II, where she contributed to teaching undergraduate courses in sericulture and assisted with postgraduate classes. Her dual exposure to practical fieldwork and academic instruction highlights her ability to bridge the gap between scientific research and its real-world applications.

Research Interest

Her research interests focus on the advancement of sericulture through sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and community-based approaches. She is particularly passionate about integrating modern scientific techniques with traditional sericulture methods to enhance productivity and quality. Nanita Bora’s work emphasizes the potential of sericulture not only as a source of livelihood for rural communities but also as an environmentally friendly industry with global relevance. She also takes interest in interdisciplinary research, exploring connections between textile design, agricultural sciences, and biotechnological applications, which positions her at the forefront of innovation in sericulture and allied fields.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her academic and professional journey, Nanita Bora has received several prestigious awards and recognitions. She was a recipient of the State Merit Scholarship during both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Assam Agricultural University, reflecting her consistent academic excellence. Her dedication to research was acknowledged with the Young Fellow Award at the International Conference on Innovations in Agriculture and Allied Sciences (CITAAS-2024). Additionally, she earned the Young Professional Award from Vigyan Varta Eminence Awards 2023-24, which further cemented her reputation as a promising scholar and contributor to the field of sericulture.

Research Skills

Nanita Bora has developed a wide range of research skills that support her work in sericulture and agricultural sciences. Her expertise includes conducting field-based experiments, handling eri silkworm rearing practices, and implementing sustainable cultivation techniques. She is proficient in academic writing, having authored multiple research papers, review articles, and popular publications. Her training experiences have equipped her with entrepreneurial skills for promoting sericulture industries, as well as technical knowledge in textile designing and computer applications. These diverse competencies reflect her ability to undertake multidisciplinary research, contribute to academic discourse, and support community-oriented projects in agriculture.

Publications

An active contributor to scientific literature, Nanita Bora has authored six research papers, six review papers, and five popular articles. Her works cover various aspects of sericulture and allied sciences, focusing on both experimental results and conceptual advancements. Through her publications, she has shared valuable insights with the academic community and practitioners in the field. Her contributions demonstrate not only her research capabilities but also her dedication to knowledge dissemination and public awareness. By balancing scholarly rigor with accessibility, she ensures that her findings benefit both academic peers and stakeholders engaged in agricultural development.

Gogoi, D., Bora, N*., Singha, T. A., Sarma, J., & Chetia, P. (2025). Diversity, development and management of insect galls: Insights into gall infestation on silkworm food plants. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology.

Singha, T. A., Bora, N*., Gogoi, D., & Marak, M. (2025). Economic cocoon parameters of Barpat (Bombyx mori) silkworm on different mountages. Biotica Research Today.

Bora, N*., Borah, P., & Sonowal, P. (2025). Advancing sustainable sericulture through organic nutrient management: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research.

Bora, N*., Borah, P., Devi, N., Das, A., & Gopalakrishnan, S. (2025). Potential of natural dyes in silk dyeing: Trends, challenges and future prospects. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research.

Singha, T. A., Bhattacharyya, B., Gogoi, D., Bora, N*., Marak, M., & Borgohain, A. (2024). Innovative utilization of sericulture resources to value added products – A review. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nanita Bora stands out as a passionate and accomplished professional in sericulture, blending academic knowledge, practical skills, and innovative research. Her academic journey, combined with her teaching and field experiences, highlights her commitment to advancing sustainable sericulture practices and supporting rural livelihoods. Through her awards, publications, and active participation in professional societies, she continues to make meaningful contributions to the agricultural sciences community. As a young researcher with interdisciplinary expertise, she is well-positioned to shape the future of sericulture and allied sectors, ensuring their growth and relevance in an evolving global context.

Nikita Kankanawadi | Sericulture | Women Researcher Award

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.