Dr. O.P. Pareek did his Ph.D. (Horticulture, Pomology) in 1967 from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He has done extensive research at 7 different institutes and universities in the country on crop physiology relating to water relations and on genetic resources and biosystematics of fruit crops. He established CIAH (ICAR) in 1993 at Bikaner and was instrumental in initiating All India Multi-location Research Project of ICAR on arid fruits and its coordination first from HAU and then from CIAH. He led the activities to implement ‘UNDP/FAO Project on Improvement of Date Palm’ during 1980-1987. He has published over 80 research articles, 50 research reports, 30 chapters in books and 10 books. He provided consultancy to the National University, Santiago del Estero, Argentina as Pomegranate Production FAO Expert.