Raghunatha Rao Dharmapuri

Raghunatha Rao Dharmapuri completed post graduation in zoology in 1978 and continued his studies with ICAR Senior and obtained Ph.D from Osmania University in 1984, Hyderabad. Later he worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Department of Chemistry, Osmania University During 1978-85, he carried out research on the evaluation of natural products such as plant extracts, their principles and synthetic chemicals as insecticides, anti-feedants and juvenomimics against different crop pests under laboratory and field conditions. 

Raghunatha Rao Dharmapuri has also worked on Integrated Pest Management and Water management in rice cropping systems in one of the ICAR’s Institute in Hyderabad. He also worked on histopathological effects of natural products and pesticides.  After a brief stint of Post Doctoral Fellow at Osmania University he joined the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, one of the ICMR Institutes in 1986 and worked till 1999. During this period he conducted laboratory bio-assays to study the susceptibility and resistance to various groups of insecticides of natural, synthetic and biological origin. 

Raghunatha Rao Dharmapuri also conducted small and large scale field trials in controlling mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in rice fields. He developed a farmers’ and eco-friendly strategy for the control of Japanese encephalitis mosquito vectors using neem and intermittent irrigation (water management). He developed a cost effective strategy to control JEV vectors in JE endemic areas which was adopted by Tamilnadu Government between 1996 and 98 for the control of Japanese encephalitis disease in the villages. In 1999 he joined the Extension and Training Division of the National Institute of Nutrition and at present he is holding Scientist E.  In 2003, he served as an Expert Committee Member of The Research and Analysis Cell, Department of Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, India and studied Outbreak of Viral Encephailtis-2003. 

Raghunatha Rao Dharmapuri suggested various vector control strategies for controlling man-mosquito contact to interrupt the disease transmission. After joining NIN he conducted various Nutrition extension programmes to different groups of communities in association with various Government organizations such as Power Generation, Railways, Indian Airlines etc., and Non-Government organizations viz., Confederation of Voluntary Associations, World vision, STARS etc, He is also involved in organizing various exhibitions at the community level and organizing training to frontline workers in nutrition and health. In 2009 he obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Food Security from Wageningen University/Wageningen International, The Netherlands in 2009.