Dr. Rajiv Kumar

Dr. Kumar earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, in 2000, followed by an MBA in Agribusiness from the College of Agribusiness Management at the same university in 2002.

This combination of veterinary training and business education connects animal health and productivity with farmer economics, market viability, project structuring and institutional delivery.

Since joining the Department of Animal Husbandry, Uttarakhand in January 2003, Dr. Kumar has served as Veterinary Officer, Deputy Director (Projects) in Dehradun and Deputy General Manager of the Uttarakhand Sheep Goat Rabbit Farmers’ Federation.

He presently serves as Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer / Senior Veterinary Officer, equivalent to Deputy Director, at the Government Veterinary Hospital in Rudraprayag.

In Rudraprayag, he has delivered veterinary services while leading central and state livestock programmes, including Foot and Mouth Disease Control, Brucellosis Control, Integrated Sample Survey, Livestock Census and Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination.

His nodal responsibilities have also covered livestock insurance, animal-health implementation, field reporting, team coordination and target-based programme delivery.

A significant part of Dr. Kumar’s work has involved equine management during the Kedarnath Yatra, where veterinary care is delivered under demanding environmental and operational conditions.

His leadership has supported disease control, animal welfare, regulatory compliance and field-team coordination during high-volume seasonal livestock movement in the Himalayan region.

Dr. Kumar has supported farmers and rural entrepreneurs through project formulation, technical guidance and handholding under self-employment, Kisan Credit Card, livestock-insurance and NABARD-linked schemes.

He has helped prepare and support more than 200 bankable projects across dairy, small ruminants and allied activities, with several recognised as model project reports.

He participated in a departmental visit to Roseville Park Merino Stud in New South Wales, Australia, to select and import Merino sheep for breed upgradation and productivity enhancement in Uttarakhand.

During his tenure with the Uttarakhand Sheep Goat Rabbit Farmers’ Federation, he also contributed to the state-wide launch of an NCDC-supported goat-farming programme.

Within KINIKH, Dr. Kumar advises on animal health, dairy and livestock systems, small-ruminant development, veterinary compliance, farmer-oriented enterprise models and livestock-based rural livelihoods.

His integrated perspective helps strengthen technical protocols, farmer-support systems, project feasibility, animal-welfare standards and commercially sustainable livestock ventures, subject to applicable professional and service requirements.