I, Dr. T. Pradeep, presently working as Director (Seeds), Seed Research and Technology Centre at Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, have 32 years of long experience in practical plant breeding. I have rich experience in crops like cotton, rice, maize, soybean and sugarcane and contributed to development and release of 14 varieties/hybrids in the above crops, possessing biotic and abiotic resistance. Haritha, a drought tolerant sugarcane variety with 10.83 per cent sugar recovery was the most popular among the sugarcane farmers of Nizamabad and Medak districts during 1988-1998. Newly released (2015) Basar variety of Soybean has been the excellent performer in Adilabad district with pod shattering resistance. Drought tolerant and quality genotypes of Gossypium arboreum cotton (Veena & Mdl 2463) developed at Mudhol centre were outstanding in their performance even against non Bt hirsutum hybrids during the drought years from 1997-2005 and formed the basis for conceptualization of three NATP projects (RCPS 6,7 and 8) at national level. Short and compact genotypes of G. hirsutum (ADB 39, ADB 536, ADB 548) developed at Adilabad centre were instrumental in formulation of a separate trial on high density planting in AICRP. These short and compact genotypes mature early and escape terminal drought frequently encountered in rain fed conditions besides their suitability to machine harvesting. Recently released maize hybrid i.e., Karimnagar Makka would go a long way in mitigating drought and post flowering stalk rot disease in maize. Besides, the above contributions, I have implemented three NATP projects and one project on technology mission on cotton in the capacity of Principal Investigator and conducted 120 on-farm demonstrations to popularize desi cotton varieties among the small and marginal farmers of the state during 1999-2005.

As Director (Seeds) I am coordinating with breeder seed production of Telangana State for the past two years and up scaled the seed production of different crops of various classes from around 6000 q in 2014-15 to 15000q in 2016-17.

As part of commercialization of technologies I could motivate ten small seed companies to sign MOU with the Universities for seeking production and marketing rights in respect of two maize hybrids i.e., DHM 117 and DHM 121.

I am a recipient of Meritorious Research Scientist Award from the University for the year 2002 and Meritorious Research Scientist Award for the excellent work done in cotton from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the year 2007. I was also bestowed with Best Research Paper Award during Golden Jubilee Symposium organized on the eve of Golden Jubilee celebrations of the research station at ARS Adilabad in 2008.

I have published 53 research papers in various National and International journals of repute and presented 30 papers in seminars/symposia organized by different state, central institutes and universities.

As Research Advisory Council Member (nominated by ICAR) of ICAR-CICR, Nagpur from 2014-2017 directed the crop improvement programme of the Institute with focused attention on development of material suitable for High Density Planting System (HDPS) amenable for machine picking.

I am a regular / life member of six professional societies and act as referee for their journals. Nominated as member of selection committee for recruitment of Assistant/Associate Professors in VNMKV, Parbani and MPKV, Rahuri. Besides, I am also one of the Board of Directors for Telangana State Seed Development Corporation and Telangana State Seed & Organic Certification Agency, Telangana State, Hyderabad.