Profile

Smita Dash Baishakhy, born in 1993 in Sunamganj, Bangladesh, is an accomplished academic and early-career researcher specializing in agricultural extension and rural development. She earned a B.Sc. in Agriculture (Hons.) and Master of Science in Agricultural Extension Education from Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh, and an International Master of Science in Rural Development from Ghent University, Belgium. Her exceptional academic performance was recognized with the Prime Minister Gold Medal, the Chancellor’s Award, and an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, achieving Magna Cum Laude distinction in her master’s program. With extensive expertise in agricultural science and rural sociology, Mrs. Baishakhy’s knowledge encompasses agricultural extension, technology diffusion, rural project management, sociological perspectives on rural development, research methodologies, and sustainable agri-food systems. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Extension Education at Sylhet Agricultural University, she actively contributes to teaching and research. She has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications and secured research grants as principal investigator and co-investigator from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh. Currently, she is attending the Doctorate in Sustainability program, majoring in agri-food economics at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain. Her research interests focus on socio-psychological predictors of adaptive behavior, climate resilience, sustainable agricultural systems, and food security, positioning her as a key contributor to advancing global agricultural and rural development agendas.