Bandi Venkateswarlu

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture India

Dr. B.Venkateswarlu has started his career as a Research Associate in ICRISAT in 1976 with biological nitrogen fixation as the initial research subject. He joined agricultural research service (ARS) of ICAR in 1977 and posted as Scientist S-1 at Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur. He initiated research for the first time on desert microbiology and quantified the impact of sand dune stabilization on soil microflora dynamics in the desert eco system. He also developed several strains of nitrogen fixing and P-solubilizing microorganisms for arid legumes. He moved to Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) in 1986 as Senior Scientist and pursued research in the areas of soil fertility management, biofertilizers and bio-pesticides. He was appointed as Principal Production System Scientist (PPSS) of the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) in 2001in which he served upto 2006. Under this project, more than 100 production system research projects were coordinated by him in the rainfed agro-eco-system across the country. He joined as Head of the Division of Crop Sciences in 2006 and then appointed as Director of the Institute in July, 2008. He is now holding this research management position directing and coordinating the research programmes of CRIDA on rainfed agriculture, two coordinated projects on Dryland Agriculture and Agrometeorology and one network project viz. Climate Change. His current areas of research include, rainfed agriculture, rural livelihoods, NRM and climate change. Dr.Venkateswarlu is the follow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Fellow of Indian Society of Oilseeds Research, President of Indian Society of Dryland Agriculture Research, Member, New York Academy of Sciences and life member of several Academic and Professional Societies in India. He is on the Board of AP Horticulture University, Academic Council Member of MPKVV, Rahuri, Steering Committee member of Expert group on Integrated Watershed Management Project (IWMP) of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Expert Panel Member of National Disaster Management Authority. He served as the Member of the Sub-group of ICAR to prepare the Mission on Sustainable Agriculture Document under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. He visited several countries on bilateral programmes and as scientific expert. He published over 100 research papers, 10 books and holds one patent.

Bandi Venkateswarlu

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