Dr P. Rethinam

Former Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), Kunizgan Jakarta, Indonesia

Dr Rethinam has long experience in research and development, including teaching for more than four decades of which three decades in Plantation crops research and development. He was responsible for the release of first four coconut hybrids and varieties for the first time in 1985. The success of oil palm as an irrigated small holder’s crop is mainly due to the effort made by Dr. P. Rethinam. He published 215 articles, co-edited two volumes of the books on Recent Advances in Plantation Crops, edited 37 books and many technical bulletin, Proceedings, DVDs, CDs of APCC intellectual database, etc., He was associated with setting up of farmers field school of coconut in 9 Asia Pacific and African countries introducing outreach programme. He is the winner of several awards for his outstanding performance in research and development. He is a Fellow of Indian Society for Plantation Crops, Indian Society for Plant Genetic Resources and Association for the Improvement in Production and utilization of Banana. He is actively associated with ICAR heading QRT, RAC and CAC of NAIP. He is also Advisor and RAB Member in World Noni Research Foundation