Prof. Velchala Praveen Rao is a distinguished agricultural scientist and visionary academic leader, currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Kaveri University. With over four decades of experience, he is internationally recognized as a leading authority in precision water management, with pioneering contributions to micro-irrigation, fertigation scheduling, and crop water requirement optimization.
As the Founding Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), he led a transformative agenda that repositioned the university as a hub of innovation and impact-oriented translational research. Under his leadership, 54 climate-resilient crop varieties and cutting-edge technologies such as precision irrigation, drones, sensors and artificial intelligence were integrated into Indian agriculture, setting new benchmarks for technology-driven farming systems.
Prof. Rao’s seminal contribution to the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) through the development of detailed project reports played a catalytic role in scaling micro-irrigation across millions of hectares promoting national vision of more crop per drop and Viksit Bharat. This intervention significantly enhanced water productivity, improved farm incomes, reduced input costs, and contributed to sustainable agricultural intensification at scale.
An accomplished scholar, Prof. Rao holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy with distinction and has authored over 534 scholarly contributions, including 177 peer-reviewed research papers and 16 authoritative books. His expertise is widely recognized through his association with national and international institutions, including the Governing Council of ICAR, the Indian Society of Agronomy, and leading industry bodies such as CII. He has also served as an international consultant to Netafim, Israel, contributing to global advancements in micro-irrigation technologies.
He is a recipient of numerous prestigious honors, most notably the 7th M.S. Swaminathan Award, Education Leadership award, Leader with a strategic vision and Best Vice Chancellor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to agricultural science and sustainable development. His work uniquely bridges the domains of science, policy, and practice, aligning agricultural innovation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Currently, Prof. Rao is spearheading the integration of “Future-Ready” technologies—including artificial intelligence, IoT, drones, robotics, and digital agriculture platforms—to modernize the agrifood systems and enhance resilience under changing climate scenarios. Through his visionary leadership, he continues to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and farmers toward achieving water security, soil health restoration, and global food and nutritional security.
His career stands as a testament to the transformative potential of integrating scientific excellence, technological innovation, and sustainable practices in building a resilient and prosperous agrifood ecosystem.
Kaveri University was established as per the Telangana Private Universities (Establishment & Regulation) Act, 2018 under section 3.
