Ayanava-Majumdar-Headshot-photo-Auburn

Ayanava Majumdar

Extension Professor

Entomology & Plant Pathology

(251) 331-8416 

  azm0024@auburn.edu 

  

Get In Touch

Address:
301 Funchess Hall
Auburn Univ, AL 36849

Biography

EDUCATION

  • 2001-2006 Ph.D. Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND.
  • 1998-2001M.S. Agric. Entomology (with Distinction). Dr. P.D. Agricultural University, Maharashtra, India.
  • 1993-1997 B.S. in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (with Honors). G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttaranchal, India.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2008-present Extension Professor/Entomologist, AU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology/ACES, Auburn University, Auburn
  • 2007-2008 County Extension Coordinator & Ag Educator – Cropping Systems, NDSU Extension
  • 2006-2007 Postdoctoral Associate, North Dakota State University, Fargo
  • 2001-2006 Graduate Research Assistant, NDSU Entomology, Fargo
  • 1999-2001 Product Development Executive, Novartis India Limited – Crop Protection, India

SELECT HONORS AND AWARDS

MAJOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AWARDS

  • 2019 ALFA Award for Production Research and Extension Program with $5,000 program support
  • 2018 Service to Horticulture Award, Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
  • 2017 Epsilon Sigma Phi/Alpha Pi Chapter: Early Career Award for Extension Programming
  • 2017 Southern Region IPM Center ‘Friends of IPM’: IPM Educator of the Year Award
  • 2013 Southern Region IPM Center – Pulling Together Team Leadership Award
  • 2012 Southern Region IPM Center – Future Leader Award
  • 2015 American Society of Horticulture Science: Blue Ribbon Communications Award
  • 2014 National Award for Sustainable Agriculture Program, National Association of County Agricultural Agents
  • 2012 Early Career Achievement Award, National Association of County Agricultural Agents

MAJOR COMMUNICATION AWARDS

  • 2015 High Tunnel Crop Production: Training Module for New and Beginning Farmers. ANR-2157. NACAA Bound Book National Finalist
  • 2015 Alternative Vegetable IPM Recommendation Slide Chart. ANR-2190. Blue Ribbon Communication Award, Southern Region American Society of Horticultural Sciences
  • 2012 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook (G.J. Holmes and J.M. Kemble, eds.). ANR-1344. Blue Ribbon Communication Award, Southern Region American Society of Horticultural Sciences
  • 2013 Alabama IPM Communicator E-Newsletter. NACAA Southeastern Region Communication, Team Newsletter Award (2011) and Southern Region IPM Center ‘Friends of IPM’ – Pulling Together Award

PROFFESIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • 2002-current Entomological Society of America (ESA)
  • 2008-current Southeastern Branch, ESA
  • 2011-current American Society of Horticultural Sciences
  • 2009-current American Evaluation Association (AEA)
  • 2007-current National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA)

Research

RESEARCH PROJECTS

FOCUS ON CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC VEGETABLE IPM STATEWIDE

 

FOCUS ON PEANUT PRODUCTION AND IPM SYSTEMS
  • Spider mite reduction in peanuts
  • Caterpillar control
  • Snail management in peanuts

Courses

NA

Publications

SELECT RECENT PUBLICATIONS

  1. Majumdar, A., A. Chambliss, R. Balusu, and H. Fadamiro. 2019. Effecting impact videos linking evaluation data and grower testimonials. Journal of Extension. Accepted pending revisions.
  2. Majumdar, A., M. Price, and G.V.P. Reddy. 2019. Major lessons from large-scale trap cropping demonstrations for pest reduction in vegetables. In Application of trap and cover crops in integrated pest management, Annals of the ESA Special Collection (G.V.P. Reddy, editor).
  3. Balusu, R., E. Rhodes, A. Majumdar, R. D. Cave, O. Liburd, and H. Fadamiro. 2017. Biology, ecology, and management of yellowmargined leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in organic crucifer production. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 8(1): 1-10.
  4. Majumdar, A., and J. Pitts. 2017. Yellowmargined leaf beetle control with organic insecticides in turnips. Arthropod Management Tests, 42 (1): tx038. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsx038
  5. Majumdar, A., and A. Chambliss. 2016. Effect of high tunnel pest exclusion system on two natural enemies. Journal of the NACAA. [Online] http://www.nacaa.com/journal/post_editor.php?article_id=607
  6. Majumdar, A., A. Chambliss, W. Mastin, and S. Carpenter. 2015. High tunnel pest exclusion system: Laboratory and field experiences. Journal of the NACAA. [Online] http://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=487
  7. Majumdar, A., A. Caylor, and J. Pitts. 2014. Late-season caterpillar control in tomatoes using bioinsecticide premixes and tank-mixes, 2013. Arthropod Management Tests. Volume 39. doi: 10.4182/amt.2014.E27.

EXTENSION PROJECTS

Over a decade at Alabama Extension, Dr. Majumdar has completed about 600 different training events reaching to 20,000 producers directly statewide and regionally. He works with a large team of Regional Extension Agents and Extension Coordinators to provide critical support services to thousands of growers. Dr. Majumdar has published over 370 Extension articles of various types that have a circulation exceeding 87,000 in the Southeast. The Alabama IPM Communicator with 3,000 subscribers can be found here Dr. Majumdar coordinates the Alabama Beginning Farmer Program that has multiple digital publications like the Farming Basics Online Course and Farming Basics Phone App available to all producers.

 

LONG TERM PROGRAM IMPACTS

Vegetable IPM program reduces crop losses by over 50% for growers using recommended practices. Return on investment for IPM adoption on small vegetable/diversified farms is $36 return for every dollar invested. The Alabama Organic Extension and Research IPM program was ranked #16 in the nation (OFRF Report) due to strong educational campaign. Dr. Majumdar led one of the top SARE programs nationally cited in two USDA Biennial Reports (2015-2016). The peanut IPM program has ROI of 75:1 ($75 return for every dollar invested in IPM by adoptive producer).

 

VIDEO OF IMPACT REPORTS

VIDEO IMPACT REPORTS WITH EVALUATION DATA AND GROWER TESTIMONIALS