Agricultural Education & Outreach, Sustainable Agriculture & Agroecology, Rural Development & Livelihoods, Climate Change and Food Security, Water Resources Management, Organizational Development & Behavior, Social Development, Communication, Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainable Development.

Born on February 12, 1968, Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar is a distinguished academician and administrator with a remarkable career spanning over 29 years (BPS-17 to BPS-21) in higher education, administration, research, and development. Currently serving as the Director of University Advancement and Financial Assistance at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, Dr. Kumbhar has previously held the position of Chairman and Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Extension, and Short Courses within the Faculty of Agricultural Social Sciences at SAU, Tandojam.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kumbhar has held numerous key roles, including Public Relations Officer (PRO), Editor of SAUNI News, Deputy Hostel Provost, Coordinator for B.Ed and M.Ed off-campus degree programs, Manager of Career Services, Manager of Alumni Relations, Training Coordinator, and Incharge of the Farmers Advisory Services Center at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.

Dr. Kumbhar has a wealth of experience in administration, teaching, extension outreach, and the planning and appraisal of research and development projects. His exceptional academic and administrative performance led to his appointment as Focal Person for the Business Incubation Centre (BIC) and the Sindh Agriculture Growth Project (SAGP). Notably, Dr. Kumbhar is the founder of four significant departments/sections: the Business Incubation Centre, Gender Resource Centre, UNFAO Resource Center, and the Khairpur College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology in Khairpur. He has also signed 18 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with national and international organizations to foster academic, research, and development collaborations.

As a resource person and keynote speaker, Dr. Kumbhar has contributed to programs and initiatives led by USAID, UNFAO, ITC-GRASP, ASLP, SIAPEP, SAFWCO, RDF,

RSPN, LHDP, ACF, and other international organizations. He has also facilitated numerous MoUs for academic, research, and extension outreach collaborations.

Dr. Kumbhar is an active member of various development boards and currently serves on the Governing Bodies of MDF, RDF, SAFWCO, and the Nara Canal Area Water Board. He is also the Chairman of the SAFWCO Support Foundation and provides advisory and consultancy services to organizations such as HANDS, LHDP, Sindh Community Foundation, SRPO, SRSO, TRDP, SAMI, and the Sukaar Foundation.

Dr. Kumbhar began his academic career as a Lecturer (BPS-17) in the Department of Agricultural Education, Extension, and Short Courses at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, in the month of November 1995. He has maintained an active scholarly interest in agricultural education, extension, research, and rural development. A prolific writer and researcher, Dr. Kumbhar has authored 48 research papers on topics such as food security, climate change, rural economy, sustainable agriculture, organizational behavior, and sustainable development. He has co-supervised and evaluated over 100 M.Sc/M.Phil dissertations and supervised eight Ph.D. scholars, producing two Ph.D. graduates as a major supervisor.

Dr. Kumbhar has initiated numerous research, outreach, capacity-building, and development programs. He has conducted baseline and impact assessment studies for projects affiliated with HEC, Sindh-HEC, WWF Pakistan, UNFAO, USAID, the European Union, ITC-GRASP, HANDS, RDF, SAFWCO, Sukaar Foundation, SRSO, SAMI Foundation, TRDP, LHDP, Indus Consortium, Sindh Community Foundation, SRPO, MDF, and MDC, among others.

An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Kumbhar has presented research papers as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences in over 20 countries, including the USA, Australia, Turkey, China, Iran, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Dubai, and Thailand. He is being regularly invited as a keynote or guest speaker at conferences, seminars, and workshops worldwide.

Dr. Kumbhar has played a pivotal role in developing the PC-I for the Agricultural Engineering College in Khairpur Mir’s and has prepared various projects and proposals for Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. He has also established coordination and collaboration with the Turkish Coordination & Cooperation Organization (TIKA), supported 12,000 small farmers during the 2022 floods, and initiated greenhouse facilities at SAU, Tandojam.

As Focal Person, Principal Investigator, Founder, Director, and Chairman of various research and academic training programs, Dr. Kumbhar has successfully organized over 300 short courses, workshops, and seminars on topics ranging from faculty development to future trends in science, agriculture, extension, and rural development. He has also served as a Member of the Review Committee for University Rankings, providing leadership to enhance SAU’s standing, and as a Member of the Senate of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Additionally, he has served on the Board of Directors for SAFWCO, RDF, and MDF, Member of SIDA, Member of Board of Department at SMIU,

In recognition of his outstanding academic and research contributions, Dr. Kumbhar has been awarded the Best Presenter and Organizer by various national and international organizations.