Summary

• Worked as an associate professor and professor teaching agricultural sciences to graduate and post graduate students specializing in Genetics and Plant breeding (Crop improvement) for 21 years.
• Involved in applied research for 10 years in the development of twelve high yielding rice varieties.
• Involved in development of two hybrid rice varieties (APHR1 and APHR2) the first of its kind in tropical countries of the world.
• Conducted collaborated research in rice improvement with International Rice Research Institute in Philippines and Changsha Institute, China .
• Served as Associate Dean and Dean of Agriculture for a period of seven years performing multitude of administrative tasks.

Education

Experience and contributions in Teaching, Research and Extension:

Teaching

• Worked in different capacities as Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor over a period of 28 years at different campuses of ANGR Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India.
• Offered the courses to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students relating to Botany of field crops, Plant Breeding, Cytology, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Seed Production, Disease resistance, Mutation Breeding, Plant Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Seed testing, breeding of self pollinated crops, breeding of cross pollinated crops etc.
• Guided 4 Ph.D students in Genetics and Plant Breeding as major advisor.
• Responsible for starting multimedia auto tutorial systems as the means of computer aided instruction to the undergraduate students at Agricultural College, Bapatla.

Research

• Engaged in varietal improvement of rice in Andhra Pradesh, India. Actively involved in the formulation of research projects and implementation at ten rice research centers of the university.
• Responsible for the development and popularization and release of genetically Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) resistant varieties in rice viz., Vajram (MTU 5249), Pratibha (MTU 5293), Chaitanya (MTU 2067), Krishnaveni (MTU 2077), Nandi (MTU 5182) and Vijeta (MTU 1001).
• Responsible for initiating the research work on hybrid rice at Agricultural Research Station, Maruteru with the coordination of Directorate of Rice Research and International Rice Research Institute and Changsha Institute, China.
• Involved in the development and release of the first two rice hybrids in India viz., APHR. 1 and APHR.2. These hybrids were the first of its kind in the tropical countries of the world. The rice hybrids thus developed were suited for semi arid regions of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Extension

• Conducted many farmers meetings at village level with the aim of transferring technology to the farmers.
• Participated in Kharif and Rabi action plant meetings conducted by the Joint Directors of Agriculture of various districts and involved in the formulation of action plan for improving the productivity of the rice crop.
• Conducted the Kisan Melas in the pursuit of transfer of technology to the farmers at A.R.S Maruteru and Agricultural College, Bapatla and also participated in State Level Kisan Melas as well as those conducted at Zonal Headquarters.
• Organized many training programmes on production technology of rice to the Officers of the Dept. of Agriculture.
• Organized the hybrid rice seed production programmes separately for the farmers and the personnel of public and private sectors.
• Participated in the diagnostic survey programmes and field visits of the farmers to identify the spontaneous field problems and rendering technical advice to the farmers.

Countries visited

• Deputed to Kansas State University, USA for Ph.D programme under USAID project in 1971.
• Visited International Rice Research Institue, Philippines twice during 1987 and 1992 to undergo Special Training Program on Hybrid rice breeding and seed production.
• Participated as a member in the Overseas Study tour of the Deans and Associate Deans to study the educational systems of different countries viz., Australia, U.S.A, U.K and submitted the recommendations to the University for Adoption at ANGRAU in the year 1996.
• Member in Quinquennial Review Team (QRT).
• Selected as a member of QRT by ICAR from Agricultural faculty to assess the functioning of CS Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur and to render suitable recommendations for efficient functioning of the university.
• Visited East African countries, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya representing Prathista Industries Limited to tie-ups with respective Countries National Agricultural Research Institutes and Agricultural Universities.
• Visited Guyana representing Prathista Industries Limited to tie-up with National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in South America.

Accomplishments

• Rice varieties developed by my team occupy nearly 25% of rice growing area in India (10 million hectares out of 40 million hectares).
• Developed Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) resistant rice varieties for the first time in India.
• Developed three out of the six most widely grown rice varieties in India (Swarna, Samba Mahsuri, Vijeta) according to Impact analysis study conducted by International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. (to be published).
• The three rice varieties (Swarna, Samba Mahsuri, Vijeta) are spread over in cultivation in twelve states of India as well as some foreign countries.
• Sambha Mahsuri which is also known as Sona Mashuri is widely accepted by consumers in United States and other parts of the world.
• Received “Excellent Performance Award” from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for maintaining quality of education.

Present Assignment Since 2008

Whole Time Director to lead Research and Development activities pertaining to Prathista Industries Limited to bring focus on Private-Public Partnership programs with various Universities and also National laboratories.