Oil palm research in India started with the establishment of a Research Station at Thodupuzha by the Department of Agriculture, Kerala during 1960. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started oil palm research at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute Research Centre at Palode during 1975. Oil Palm was included as one of the crops in the All India Coordinated Research Project on Palms during VII Five Year Plan period.
During VIII Five Year Plan, Indian Council of Agricultural Research established National Research Centre for Oil Palm at Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh on February 19, 1995 to strengthen the research on all aspects of oil palm under irrigated conditions. The Government of Andhra Pradesh handed over about 100 ha land at Pedavegi for establishment of this Centre on long term lease. This land was used as an airstrip for military planes by Britishers during the Second World War. A portion of the strip was developed by using Bulldozers to layout the field experiments.Later during April 1999, the CPCRI Research Centre at Palode, Kerala was merged with NRC for Oil Palm. During XI plan, NRCOP was upgraded as Directorate of Oil Palm Research (DOPR) and later upgraded as ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (ICAR-IIOPR) during XII Plan.
The village of Pedavegi also has a historical significance. It was the capital of Eastern Chalukyas (Chalukyas of Vengi) dynasty who ruled parts of South India between 7th and 12th centuries.
