Prof. SURAPANENI KOTESHWARA RAO, a renowned educationist and researcher has been working as Vice-Chancellor of RVSKVV, Gwalior. Prior to that he has served JNKVV, Jabalpur for more than 36 years as Director Research Services (2015-2017), Dean Faculty of Agriculture (2012-2015), Director Farms (Additional Charge) (2001-2012), Dean, College of Agriculture, Rewa (2009-2012), University Professor and Head, Dept. Of Plant Breeding (2001-2009), Scientist (1990-2001), Junior Scientist (1980-1989) and as Senior Research Assistant (1980).Born in Polukonda, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, India on 8 March, 1952, Prof. Rao has obtained Doctorate and Master Degrees from JNKVV, Jabalpur with a Certificate of Honours and B.Sc. from Andhra University (A.P.).

As the Principal Investigator of several externally funded National / International research projects, Prof. Rao has visited several international organizations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Uruguay, Japan and Switzerland. His association with crop improvement programmes, seed programmes, agri- business incubator, food and agri-business, organic agriculture has been duly recognised and well-received.

Prof. Rao has wide experience in agricultural education and research management with expertise in crop improvement, seed systems management, commercial research farm management and agribusiness incubation. As a team leader and motivator, he is renowned for strong manpower planning, management and training of the people at various levels in both public and private sectors. Prof. Rao has excellent interpersonal abilities for developing professional networks independently with National and International agencies. Dr. Rao stresses upon the need based basic and strategic research on oilseeds and pulses. Versatile professional with proven history of development, Prof. Rao has to his credit twenty varieties of various crops. Self-motivated with demonstrated success in agricultural university administration, he has developed seed production and supply systems in tribal areas to improve the quality seeds availability and enhanced the livelihood of tribal farmers. For the development of infrastructure and for the maintenance of breeding of diversified nucleus, breeder seed production systems he has left no stone unturned. His unrelenting efforts for the establishment of brand image for high quality seeds and planting materials called Jawahar Seeds has made JNKVV emerged as a top ranking institution for breeder seed production in the NARS in India and that has further contributed for enhanced varietal and seed replacement rates in MP and other parts of the country. Prof. Rao has been instrumental in restructuring the commercial operations of research farms from cost centre to profit centre; development of diversified seed production programmes, university leadership, quantity and quality of breeder seed production management and establishment of brand image and trademark of Jawahar Seeds and Logo. Establishment of Agribusiness incubator Biofertilizer consortium and holding of 50 entrepreneurs and guidance to M.Sc. (30)/PhD. (10) students have been some of his substantial contribution. He has rendered his services in curriculum development at the National level for vocational courses in Agriculture Developed Policy and contributed to the inter institutional linkages for establishment of the Farmers’ Seed Cooperatives and supported farmers’ self-help groups and Farmers’ Producer Organizations (FPOs). Prof. Rao has been responsible for capacity building of Graduate, Post Graduate and Doctoral Level students and trained more than one thousand Senior Seed Management Professionals from industry and scientists of NARS in the areas of seed production technologies, Agribusiness development and seed industry management. As an accomplished academician, Prof Rao has published over 200 research papers, several articles in National, International Journals and published several books. Dr. Rao has been in the various committees at the National and State Level.

Dr. Rao has been the recipient of several prestigious institutional awards at National and State level such as Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award by ICAR (2007-2008), Dr. Kailash Nath Katju Award (2008) by Govt. of MP, ICAR Award for Outstanding Inter-Disciplinary Team Research in Agriculture and Allied Sciences (2007-2008), Achievers Award (2010), Distinguished Scientist Award by the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences (2019), Jawahar Ratna Award by JNKVV (2020), India Seed Awards 2020 - Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Seed Sector (2020). He is the Fellow of the National Academy of Agriculture Sciences India, Indian Society of Pulse Research and Development and Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding and Honorary Fellow of the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Sciences.