Dr. Bakshi Ram, a distinguished Plant Breeder with over 30 years of experience in Sugarcane Research, has assumed office as Director, Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore with effect from October 28, 2014. He has earlier worked as Director, Uttar Pradesh Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur. Prior to that he was the Head, Regional Station, Karnal (Haryana) of Sugarcane Breeding Institute. He obtained his Masters and Doctoral Degrees from CCS Haryana Agricultural University. He had developed 12 sugarcane varieties, one wheat variety (WH 416) and four genetic stocks of sugarcane. Among these, the cane varieties, Co 98014, Co 0118, Co 0238, Co 0239 and Co 05011 are popular in sub-tropical India. Variety Co 0238 in particular, currently occupies over 2 lakh hectares in the North Indian states. He has several national and international publications to his credit. He is the recipient of several awards and recognitions like Gold Medal B.Sc.(Hons); Ag.(1981), Dr. Ram Dhan Singh Gold Medal M.Sc. (Ag).(1983), Eminent Agriculture Scientist Award (2005), Noel Deerr Gold Medal Award, STAI, New Delhi (2010),Felicitation for outstanding contribution in the field of Sugarcane Breeding – CCS HAU Alumni Association (2012) Certificate of Appreciation, Distt. Admn., Karnal (2012) Industry Excellence Award, STAI, New Delhi (2013).