B. Neeraja Prabhakar Appointed Chairperson of ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research Advisory Committee

B. Neeraja Prabhakar, the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, has assumed the role of chairperson for the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) at the prestigious ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) in Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. Effective from June 13, Ms. Prabhakar’s appointment signifies her leadership in a committee comprising ten members, entrusted with the task of providing guidance and support to address the challenges faced by oil palm farmers nationwide. Simultaneously, Ms. Prabhakar also serves as a member of the Telangana Oil Palm Advisory Committee, contributing her expertise to advise the State government on crucial matters pertaining to oil palm cultivation and processing. Telangana’s commitment to expanding oil palm cultivation aims to alleviate the country’s edible oil shortage, with a target of reaching at least 10 lakh acres within the next four years. It is noteworthy that Telangana leads all Indian states in terms of the highest oil recovery rate from oil palm bunches produced. The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) in Pedavegi is the country’s sole esteemed research institute exclusively dedicated to the study of oil palm and the development of technologies applicable to oil palm-growing states. The Research Advisory Committee (RAC), led by Ms. Prabhakar, will play a crucial role in providing guidance and support to IIOPR’s research initiatives, focusing on overcoming challenges faced by oil palm farmers across the nation.