Dr Velchala Praveen Rao took Charge as Vice- Chancellor of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agril University

DR. PRAVEEN RAO Velchala holds a Ph.D degree in Agronomy with specialization in crop water requirements, micro irrigation scheduling & fertigation solutions of tropical field and orchard crops, and crop yield – water modeling.

Since 1983 he has served for 33-years as Teacher, researcher, Extension Agronomist and Administrator in different capacities in Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Professor & University Head of Agronomy; IFFCO Chair; Director, Water Technology Centre; Registrar and presently Special Officer of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University. Also served as Technical Advisor on Micro irrigation to several State Governments and Expert Member on micro irrigation committees in India & abroad; International Micro irrigation Consultant for 5-years in Israel promoting implementation of sustainable water conservation technologies in eighteen Asia-Pacific, African and Latin American Countries.

He published – 151 research articles in peer reviewed National & International Journals, authored 16 books Handled 13-Research and 6-Consultancy micro irrigation projects in India, Israel and South Africa. As Technical Advisor he was instrumental in formulation & commissioning of world's largest micro irrigation project covering an area of 0.5 million ha. This project was significant milestone in Indian agriculture and set a benchmark for micro irrigation technology application on a large scale in India and constitution of Technology Mission on Micro irrigation.

He was also a recipient of "Meritorious Teacher Award", Leadership Award for large scale promotion of Micro irrigation Technologies in India from Soil & Water Conservation Society of India, Mashav Fellowship by CINADCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State of Israel and Net Award for knowledge contribution in the field of micro irrigation technologies form Netafim Ltd., Israel.

As an International Micro irrigation Consultant for 5-Years as Fellow of ISOR in Isreal. Contributed to mapping, organization, storage, dissemination & sharing of agronomical knowledge and development of digital knowledge than 198 drip irrigated field vegetable, fruits, plantation and bio-fuel crops to create new capabilities, decision criteria for diffusion and adoption, enable superior system performance, encourage innovation and enhance stakeholder value. He is a Fellow of Telangana Academy. Developed a website viz., www.sugarcanecrops.com /  www.ethanolcrops.com concerning A to Z of drip irrigated sugarcane for the benefit of drop irrigated sugarcane growers in several countries viz., Brazil, India, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, Philippines etc.

-Press note