S Ayyappan takes over from Rai as ICAR chief

S Ayyappan on Friday took charge as the new director-general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He replaces Mangala Rai, who retired on 31 December, an official statement in New Delhi said.
 
Ayyappan has also become secretary of the department of agricultural research and education, it added. He will head around 5,000 scientists working in 45 institutes, 17 national research centres, four deemed universities, six national bureaus, 25 directorates and project directorates, 569 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, 44 state agricultural universities across the country, and the Central Agricultural University in Manipur.

Ayyappan has served as deputy director general of fisheries in ICAR since 2002.