EDITORIAL BOARD
![Mr. Tirtha Bdr. Katwal](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tirtha-Bdr.-Katwal-1.jpg)
Mr. Tirtha Bdr. Katwal
Editor-In-Chief
Specialist,
National Centre for Organic Agriculture (NCOA), Yusipang
![Mr. Rinzin Wangchuk](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RW-180x180-1.jpg)
Mr. Rinzin Wangchuk
Member Secretary
Chief Agriculture Officer,
Agriculture Research and Innovation Division,
Department of Agriculture (DoA)
![Namgay Om (PhD)](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-namgay.png)
Namgay Om (PhD)
Member
Plant Protection Specialist,
National Plant Protection Centre
![Norden Lepcha (PhD)](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/dr-norden.png)
Norden Lepcha (PhD)
Member
Principal Agriculture Officer,
National Centre for Organic Agriculture, Yusipang
![Mr. Mahesh Ghimiray](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-01-145632.png)
Mr. Mahesh Ghimiray
Member
Lecturer, College of Natural Resources
![Ganja Singh Rai (PhD)](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ga1-e1701421861998.jpg)
Ganja Singh Rai (PhD)
Member
Principal Horticulture Research Officer,
Agriculture Research and Development Centre, Samtenling
![Mr. Ngawang](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ngawang.jpg)
Mr. Ngawang
Associate Editor
Senior Agriculture Officer,
Agriculture Research and Innovation Division
![Ms. Kuenzang Om](http://www.bja.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/photo_2023-12-01_14-50-24-1-e1701421771965.jpg)
Ms. Kuenzang Om
Editorial Assistant
Dy. Chief Agriculture Officer,
Agriculture Research and Innovation Division
Terms of Reference
1. Editorial board
- Editorial board will be formed comprising of Editor in Chief, Editors members and member secretary, selected based on background, experience and expertise;
- Shall strive towards producing Bhutanese Journal of Agriculture (BJA) of high standard annually;
- Shall review and and screen technical papers for publication in the BJA;
- Shall serve as a clearing house for the Department for publication of article(s) related to Agriculture in the regional and international Journals/books/reports;
- Shall promote the culture of following the set standards of journal format and guidelines;
- Shall encourage and promote the culture of scientific writing and publications;
- Shall identify relevant subject matter specialist when ever required for reviewing submitted papers;
- Shall develop and enforce the set of standard guidelines for journal articles and amend as and when necessary;
- Shall have tenure of three years and may be extendable, subject to re-nomination by department;
2. Chief Editor
- Coordinate peer reviewing of technical papers for publication in BJA;
- Assign the submitted papers to the relevant reviewers for timely review;
- Ensure that each paper is evaluated at least by a member of the editorial board or relevant subject matter specialist;
- Shall be responsible for final editing of the papers and to handle all correspondences with the authors;
- Return papers needing revision to the authors and collect the revised papers within 2-3 weeks;
- Decide either to accept or reject a paper upon revision of papers by reviewers;
- May send the revised paper to the reviewers/editors to check if the paper is satisfactorily revised;
- Inform the author via e-mail regarding acceptance or rejection of paper;
- Ensure timely publication of the journal;
3. Editors/Reviewers
- Shall examine and critically review the papers and return it with their comments/observation to the Chief Editor as soon as possible, usually within three weeks;
- Shall recommend acceptance, acceptance after minor/major revision, resubmission after revision or rejection;
- Shall strive to maintain high technical standard of the papers particularly with regards to accuracy of information, facts and figures;
4. Member Secretary
- Shall organize Editorial Board meetings, and maintain records and information of the meetings;
- Prepare agenda and circulate at least seven working days prior to the editorial board meeting;
- Solicit articles from the authors and submit to Chief Editor;
- Explore and mobilize fund and ensure timely publication of the Journal;
- Strive to institutionalize the publication of BJA as priority activity of the department;
- Follow up the action required from the board meetings;
Meetings of the Editorial Board
- The editorial board will be convened at least two times a year,
- Quorum shall be two-third of the Editorial Board members.
- Members should advise the Chief Editor of any significant conflict of interest.
- Meetings will be chaired by the Chief Editor. In the absence of the Chief Editor at a particular meeting, those members present will elect a chair to officiate.