M.Sc. (Statistics), M.B.A. (Operations Management), Ph.D.

Present Work:

Working as Director, Information Technology, Documentation and Publications (ITDP). Responsible for Planning, Implementing and Monitoring IT Resources and Services for the Institute including Hardware, Software and more importantly the human resources. Implemented Interactive Computer Video Project (ICVT) during 1992-1995 developing 95 hours equivalent of Self-paced Study Material on “Watershed Management for Rain-fed Areas” and “ Rice – Seed –to- Seed), Software on Laser Disks now converted to CDs. Established State-of-the-Art Computer Labs (with over 150 nodes) at MANAGE with 24-hour Internet connectivity and Multimedia support. Established video Conferencing Facility at over 50 Institutions of National Importance in Agriculture sector to improve communication capacity of the Research-Extension System.   

Resource person to various National and International organizations including FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, at Rome), APO (Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo, Japan), ASCI (Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad), NIRD (National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad), NAARM (National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad), DRR (Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad), NPPTI (National Plant Protection Training Institute, Hyderabad),  NGOs,   etc. in the fields of Information and Communication Technology and Cyber Extension.

Work Experience: 

Started Career as Systems Analyst in 1979, Joined Indian Statistical Service (ISS) in 1982 and was there till 1987, Served in various capacities mainly in IT area for last 25 years, as Systems Analyst, Systems Manager, Information System Specialist and then Deputy Director (IT) at MANAGE. Now serving as Director (Information Technology, Documentation and Publications), at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. 

Major Contributions: Teaching, Research & Software Development and Training:

Teaching :

• Taught Research Methods for Agri-Business to PGDABM students at MANAGE, Hyderabad   1996-98, 97-99 Batches.

• Taught Statistical Quality Control classes of Production Management Course of PGDABM students at MANAGE, Hyderabad 1996-98, 97-99 Batches.

• Taught Motivation and Human behavior classes of Managing People Course of PGDABM students at MANAGE, Hyderabad 1996-98, 97-99 Batches.

• Teaching “Operations Research” Course to the PGPABM students at MANAGE, Hyderabad since 2003-04.

• Teaching “Management Information Systems” Course to the PGPABM students at MANAGE, Hyderabad since 2003-04.

Research and Development of Software :

• As a Project Co-ordinator, coordinated the work of ICVT — Interactive computer video technology project (a special sub-project funded by World Bank) to develop multimedia-learning packages on watershed management for rain fed areas and rain fed rice. The packages are highly interactive and full of audio; video, graphics and animation facilities to provide self paced learning to a learner in a stand-alone mode. MANAGE is running 3-5 courses every year using these packages.

• As the Project Co-ordinator, supervised the development of Rice Crop Doctor — An expert system to diagnose and prescribe the measures to control rice pests and diseases.

Training Programmes:

Have conducted over Two Hundred Fifty training programmes during last 28 years on following major themes:

• Computer Applications in Extension Management

• Multimedia Training on Participatory Watershed Management

• Training of Trainers

• Monitoring and Evaluation of Extension Projects

• Monitoring and Evaluation of Forestry Projects

• Participatory Extension Management

• Extension Management Development Programmes

• New Dimensions in Agricultural Extension Management

• National and International Workshops on “ Cyber Extension”

• Cyber Extension - Use of IT in Agricultural Extension 

Project Management: 

Have independently handled Information Technology implementation based projects at National level. As Project Coordinator, NATP IT Project, I was involved in the following activities:

• Prepared feasibility report to establish IT connectivity at National, Regional, State, District and Block level in 24 districts and seven states in the country.

• Implementing the IT connectivity in the above seven states for last two years.

• Prepared hardware and software specifications, procurement process and installation mechanism of required equipment and software at around 100 project locations, spread over the whole country

• Organizing training programmes for all the project implementation agencies       

• Have established one fixed Video and Mobile VSAT Van based Video Conferencing System providing Mobile VC Facility for Farmers’ Interaction with the research Scientists and the Development functionaries to improve communication capacity of Research-Extension system.

• Established a network of over 50 Video Conferencing nodes in the Centers of Excellence in Training, Research and Education in Agriculture Sector during last one year (This includes all the major State Agricultural Universities).

 Membership in Professional Societies and Organisations:

• Life Member of Indian Society of Agricultural Economists, Bombay 

• Life Member of Institute of Chartered Computer Professionals of India, Hyderabad 

• Life Member of Society of Information Sciences, New Delhi 

• Life Member of Indian Association of Wood Scientists, Dehradun 

• Member of Computer Society of India, Bombay 

Special Achievements: Was invited to deliver Key-Note Addresses / Theme Presentations as an Expert:

• Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), Rome in June 2000 in the First Consultation on Agricultural Information Management at FAO Head Quarters Rome;

• Asian Productivity Organization Tokyo, Japan for their Study Meeting for Asia and Pacific held at New Delhi in January 2002;

• Was invited as International Resource Person by FAO and The Rockefeller Foundation, USA to evaluate their “Software Resource-Kit on Documentation” at New York, USA in June 2003;

• Asian Productivity Organization Tokyo, Japan for their Seminar on Enhancement of Extension Systems in Agriculture for Asia and Pacific held at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during December 15-20, 2003;

• Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), and UNESCO, to participate as a Technical Expert in "International Conference on Transforming the Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities for Rural Populations- Role of innovation and partnership building in rural education” to be held at Baoding, Hebei Province, China, during 17-19 October 2004:  

• Asian Productivity Organization Tokyo, Japan for their Training Programme on “ICTs for Farmers’ Associations/ Agricultural Cooperatives”   held at Tehran, Iran during December 11-20, 2004; and

• DAIICT- Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Ahmedabad, for their Annual Convocation, on June 15 2006.

Contact Details:

Dr. V.P. SHARMA, Director (ITD&P),

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500 030, AP, India.

Phone : 040-24014525  Fax : 040-24015388/24014526

E-mail:  vpsharma@manage.gov.in, sharmavp2000@hotmail.com 

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