Editorial Board
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Dr. M.Venkata Ramana Principal Scientist (Rice)
Rice Research Centre, ARI, Rajendranagar
Email ID: mvramana@pjtsau.edu.inBrief Profile: Dr. Maparla Venkata Ramana is Principal Scientist (Rice) and Head at Rice Research Centre, PJTSAU, Hyderabad and has got 26 years of experience, including 10½ years as Professor, in research, teaching and extension in the discipline of Agronomy and 2½ years of administrative experience as Associate Director or Research of Southern Telangana Agro–Climatic Zone. He was born on 05th April, 1964 in Jogulamba Gadwal District in a farm family having rich agricultural background.
He has completed M.Sc., (Ag.) and Ph. D from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad during the year 1988 and 1994. Dr. M. Venkata Ramana has worked for a decade on rainfed Cotton, Sorghum, Castor and Pigeon Pea at RARS, Palem, a dry land research centre of the University, and developed Agro Technologies. He has rich experience in Cropping Systems, Nutrient Management and Integrated Farming Systems and handled two NATP projects viz., “Characterization and Identification of Suitable High Quality genotypes of Cotton and Development of Agronomic Package for Low Rainfall Red Soil and Medium Black Soil Situations of Sothern Telangana Zone” and “Identification of Research Gaps in Intercropping Systems in Southern Telangana Zone under Rainfed Ecosystems.
Dr. M. Venkata Ramana, as Chief Scientific Investigator, has completed an externally (International) aided Coordinated Research Project of joint division of FAO/IAEA on traditional and improved cropping systems of Telangana Region using isotopic techniques (15N) for four years (1999-2000 to 2002-2003) with a budget out lay of US$ 30,000/- by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Vienna, Austria. He has developed a set of options for improving the nitrogen nutrition of dry land cropping systems involving Sorghum, Pigeon Pea and Castor crops by use of N from biological N2 fixation, fertilizer and organic matter.
He has also initiated research on Integrated Farming Systems in the university from 2010 onwards and established different components of the system and developed IFS model for irrigated dry conditions involving field crops, livestock (milch animals, small ruminants, back yard poultry) and horticulture. He has developed ten (10) farm implementable Agro Technologies on various crops, cropping systems and IFS.
Dr. M. Venkata Ramana, as Associate Director of Research, Southern Telangana Zone spearheaded research and extension activities in the zone and addressed various farmers’ related issues. He has coordinated research and extension programmes, as per the needs of the farming community, at different centers and a total of 53 Agro Technologies were developed in the zone during his tenure.
He has successfully supervised and guided two Ph.D and eight M.Sc., (Ag) students as Major Advisor in Agronomy discipline. He has published 60 research papers in peer reviewed journals, besides several popular articles in vernacular language. He has participated in three Research Co-ordination Meetings (RCM’s) of the Co-ordinated Research Programme on “Management of Nutrients and Water in Rainfed Arid and Semi-Arid Areas for increasing Crop Production” of FAO/IAEA at IAEA, Vienna, Austria during 1998 and 2001 and at Institut National Agronomique in Tunis, Tunisia during 2000 as Chief Scientific Investigator and presented Progress Report of the work carried out at Palem. Besides these international exposures, he has participated in various National level Workshops of AICRP on IFS and presented compiled Progress Report of IFS research in the state. He is a life member of Society Agronomists, Andhra Pradesh; Indian Society of Weed Science; and Indian Science Congress.
As Nodal Officer (for the work entrusted to PJTSAU under RAH-ACT project of EPTRI), Dr. M. Venkata Ramana in association with university scientists and other stake holders developed portfolio of ‘Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change’ for implementation by Department of Agriculture, Government of Telangana in Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy and Mahabub Nagar districts to ensure Climate Resilient Farm Households.