Shuresh Ghimire

Vegetable Assistant Extension Educator

In his role as Assistant Extension Educator and Extension Vegetable and Hemp Specialist for UConn CAHNR Extension, Shuresh Ghimire is responsible for vegetable and hemp extension programs for the entire state of Connecticut. His current research and Extension outreach focus on vegetable and hemp integrated pest management (IPM), climate adaptation, nutrient management in high tunnels, biodegradable plastic mulch, and designing, implementing, and evaluating online courses and web-based materials for Extension audiences.

Statewide Vegetable IPM Program is one of many Extension programs Shuresh offers to vegetable growers. Weekly vegetable IPM pest alerts, Crop Talk newsletter, online vegetable production certificate course, consultations with commercial vegetable growers, on-farm demonstrations, and growers’ meetings and conferences are key ways through which he offers technical assistance and continuing education to growers in the state. His Hemp Extension and Outreach Program assists commercial hemp producers by providing information on production techniques and integrated pest management through conferences, workshops, and field visits. He collaborates with other state agencies such as USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Connecticut Hemp Industry Association (CHIA), and Connecticut Department of Agriculture to organize conferences for hemp producers and stakeholders. He also collaborates with Extension team regionally to organize New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference and to publish New England Vegetable Management Guide. Shuresh also provides leadership to the UConn’s Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) with Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as he serves as the PI on the project. The UConn FRTEP project has aided in the development of a strong partnership between UConn and MPTN.

Shuresh an active member of professional societies as well as serves through various regional and statewide committees and working groups. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Extension. Other examples of his active involvement in professional societies include Chair of the Plasticulture Professional Interest Group, American Society for Horticulture Science (2019-2020); Registration Chair of the New England Vegetable and Fruit Growers Conference (2022 and 2024); member of the Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply Strategic Vision Implementation Committee, UConn CAHNR; and member of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group: Access to Education and Training, Connecticut Department of Agriculture (2021-2023).

Shuresh has developed and delivered a highly effective Extension program on vegetable and hemp production that provides a great benefit to agricultural producers statewide. In 2020, he received David and Nancy Bull Extension Innovation Award from UConn CAHNR. In 2023, he received the Doris Lane Award from UConn Extension.

Shuresh obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural science from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He completed his Ph.D. in Horticulture (2015-2018) from Washington State University where he studied biodegradable plastic mulches for vegetable production. Prior to working in Washington, Shuresh was a Horticultural Development Officer for the Department of Agriculture in Nepal (2010-2015), where worked extensively with farmers conducting training and plant clinics and created extension publications. Shuresh also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Nepal.

UConn Today Expert Profile: https://today.uconn.edu/experts/expert-inquiry/shuresh.ghimirephd/shuresh-ghimire-phd/

Vegetable IPM Link: https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/vegetables/