Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA)

Dr. Megha N. Parajulee

Professor, Texas A&M University

Dr. Megha N. Parajulee earned a B.Sc. (Agri. Econ. Hons.) (1987) from Y. S. Paramar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India, and M.S. (1991) and Ph.D. (1994) in Entomology and Quantitative Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Dr. Parajulee joined Texas A&M University in 1994 as Cotton Entomologist and currently serves as Regents Fellow Professor and Cotton Entomology Program Leader. Dr. Parajulee’s research program combines basic and applied research in cropping systems agriculture integrating entomology, irrigation and water engineering, crop variety development, soil fertility management, and farm economics to develop production strategies for sustainable farm profitability and food security. Dr. Parajulee is a leader in cotton entomology and cropping systems research, teaching, and service, with 130 refereed and over 330 non-refereed publications, 165 invited and 350 contributed presentations, and 35 M.S./Ph.D. students mentored during his 30-year tenure at Texas A&M University. He has also coedited a NAPA-published book “Principles and Practices of Food Security: Sustainable, Sufficient, and Safe Food for Healthy Living.” He is currently serving as a co-editor of a 3-volume Book Series “NextGen Strategies for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security: Vol I. Crop Production, Vol II. Crop Improvement, Vol III. Crop Protection” with CRC Press. He has developed a significant international reputation, having been invited to 75 international conferences and symposia to deliver plenary/keynote speeches on cropping systems, production sustainability, and food security in more than 20 countries. Dr. Parajulee has served as an agricultural resource person in Nepal from his home state of Texas for over 25 years, including six months as a Fulbright Senior Scholar. He is regularly engaged in agricultural research and higher education policy discussions with the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, and agricultural universities in Nepal. Dr. Parajulee served on the Working Committee that established NAPA in 2016 and served as its Founding Life Member and Coordinator of NAPA’s First General Assembly in Dallas, Texas in 2016, which ratified NAPA bylaws and elected its first executive committee. Dr. Parajulee continued to serve NAPA for two terms as Vice President before assuming the role of President for the third executive committee (2020-2022). Dr. Parajulee also served as the Founding EditorIn-Chief (2018-2023) of NAPA’s flagship journal Global Journal of Agricultural and Allied Sciences. Dr. Parajulee’s scientific contribution and impact have been recognized with several awards, including the Texas A&M Vice Chancellor's Award in Research Excellence, Faculty Fellow Award, Regents Fellow Award, Texas A&M Vice Chancellor's Award in Team Research, Entomological Society of America Distinguished Award in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Excellence, and US Department of Agriculture Southern Region IPM Hall of Fame Award. He is a member of Entomological Society of America (ESA), including ESA National Program Chair (2010), Society of Southwestern Entomologists (President, 2010), ESA International Branch, (President, 2017), and Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA).