PJTSAU VC Dr. Praveen Rao appointed Member of ICAR's Governing Board

Hyderabad : Dr.Velchala Praveen Rao, the Vice Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), was nominated as Member, Governing Board of India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an apex body guiding the agricultural education and research policy in the country. He has been appointed for a term of three years.

Praveen Rao, widely recognised for his research on micro irrigation is a well known Agronomist by profession. He brings with him vast experience spanning over three decades in micro irrigation research which he has been continuously striving to translate into impactful programmes for the benefit of farmers in several countries including India. With his exposure as an International Micro irrigation Consultant in over 20 countries early on in his career, he conceived, formulated and operationalized a Special Purpose Vehicle Project – Andhra Pradesh Micro irrigation Project (now operating as TSMIOP in Telangana State) in the erstwhile combined State of Andhra Pradesh.

He also served as Registrar of Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University and played a responsible role in the smooth bifurcation of ANGRAU and establishment of PJTSAU, a new Agricultural University in the Telangana State. Under his able leadership and due to proactive introduction of several reforms in teaching and research, the University was rated as 3rd best Agricultural University in South India and 12th best in the country within a short span of 3-years. The Rice Research Centre and Maize Research Centre of the University were adjudged best performing centres in the country during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Further, due to his efforts, the University, all Colleges and UG, PG and Ph.D courses have been accredited by ICAR in a short span of two years, according to a press release issued by PJTSAU today.