Present work

Faculty in MANAGE. Specialization in Agricultural Extension. At present working in the areas namely Private Extension, Private-Public Partnership in Agricultural Extension Management and Agripreneurship Development. Details www.manage.gov.in.   

Co-ordinator of centrally sponsored  scheme of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres which aims at establishment of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres by providing self-employment opportunities to unemployed agriculture graduates. Details www.agriclinics.net.   

Associate editor of MANAGE Extension Research Review.

Previous Work Experience:

Worked as Liaison Officer for Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GOI for 10 years. In this capacity coordinated capacity building activities in the state of Kerala. Here worked as extension worker on one side and also extension researcher on the other hand. Conducted more than 60 training programmes for the coffee farmers, extension workers and researchers. Compiled a book titled “100 Years of Coffee Research in India” besides publishing more than two-dozen research papers including three at International Conferences.

Key Qualifications:  

• 1996 - Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture Extension), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. Cumulative Grade Point average of 9.96 /10.00 with three Gold Medals. 

• The Doctoral Thesis contributed an extension strategy for the management of Coffee Industry. 

• 1987 - Post Graduate degree  (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. Cumulative Grade Point average of 3.96/4.00 and topped 1987-89 batch. 

• Dissertation thesis focused on developing a tool for measuring the effectiveness of functioning of rural youth clubs. 

• 1983 – B.Sc.(Agriculture), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, Cumulative Grade Point average of 3.17/4.00. Bachelor degree in Agriculture with a full range of course on Horticulture, Sericulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture Marketing and Agriculture Extension. 

Consultancy / Expertise :  

Expertise in the field of Private Extension Management: Believe that Private Extension converts Agriculture into Agribusiness.  Working on this potential area for the past 4 years. Organized a National Seminar on Private Extension, bringing together academicians and practitioners all across the country who are working in this area together. Also coordinating a network of Private Extension Service Providers, which includes unemployed agriculture graduates, input dealers, progressive farmers, Agribusiness companies, farmer’s organizations, NGOs, Internet Service Providers and Private TV Channels. Two books were published on private extension, which saw second reprint in past one year.   

Expertise in the field of Private-Public Partnership:  Working on this crucial area and trying to promote the concept thorough publications, workshops and training programmes.   

Also at present working with Government of Madhya Pradesh in implementation of Noval Pilot Project titled “Private –Public Partnership in Agriculture Extension Management of Madhya Pradesh” in which Government and Agribusiness Companies are working together in service of farmers. 

Expertise in Agripreneurship Development: The experiences in the fields of Private Extension Management, Private-Public Partnership are consolidated and converged into the area of Agripreneurship development. Training programmes were conducted in this area and experiences gained through implementation of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres Scheme are most valuable and unique in this direction. Co-ordinated 152 training programmes during 2002-2003 training 4300 agripreneurs resulting in establishment of 730 Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres in the country. 

Completed Projects:

Impact of DAC – ICAR interface recommendations at farmers level: Project was assigned to MANAGE by Government of India to study the impact of DAC-ICAR interface recommendations at farmers level. As Project Leader coordinated the activities in collection of data, analysis, preparation of report and presentation of recommendations. 

On Going Projects:  

• Private-Public Partnership in Agriculture Extension Management of Madhya Pradesh: The project is being implemented in the state of Madhya Pradesh jointly by Department of Agriculture, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Agribusiness Companies and MANAGE. Tripartite MOU’s have been finalized for implementing the extension programmes jointly which assures cost effectiveness, accountability, efficiency and sustainability. 

• Centrally sponsored scheme of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres: The scheme is jointly implemented by Government of India (GOI), Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The project aims at establishing 25,000 Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres in the country during 2003-2007. As Coordinator have the responsibility of coordinating training programmes through out the country, monitoring and providing handholding support. 

• Implemented a Agripreneurship Development programme for extension officers in Tea growing areas in collaboration with Tea Board and Plantation Management Academy, Coonoor, Tamilnadu   

Training Experience:   

Conducted around 80 training programmes, workshops and seminars in the areas of New dimensions in Agriculture Extension Management, Agriculture Journalism, Private Extension, Private-Public Partnership, Agripreneurship Development, Agri-Tourism and Coffee Extension Management for senior officers of Agriculture and Line Departments of State Governments. Also co-ordinated 152 training programmes under Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centre Scheme.

Research Experience:    

Research Publications:     

Published 26 Scientific articles in reputed journals / periodicals including three presented at international seminars conducted at USA, France and Srilanka. Also published ten books on Transfer of Technology, Private Extension and Agripreneurship Development. Produced nine films on Agripreneurship Development. Also series editor for Indian Agripreneur, a bi-monthly bulletin and associate editor for “MANGE Extension Research Review” a bi-annual journal.   

Publications : Books 

1. A compendium of Coffee Research in India – Published by Indian Coffee Board, Bangalore  during 2000.

2. Abstracts of Research papers presented during National Seminar on Private Extension – Published by National Institute of Agriculture extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2000.

3. Israel agriculture (Achievement through innovation and technology) – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2000.

4. Private Extension : Myths, Realities, Apprehensions and approaches – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2001.

5. Private Extension: Indian Experiences – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2001.

6. Scheme framework of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres Scheme – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2001.

7. Agriculture to Agripreneurship: Success Stories of Agripreneurs – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2002.

8. Gurukuls of Agripreneurship Development – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2002.

9. Vijaya Ghata of Agripreneurs – Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2003.

10. Success Stories of Agripreneurs - Published by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad during 2003.

Films :

1. MANAGE launches Agri-clinics and Agri-Business Centres Scheme

2. Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres Scheme: As the policy makers see it

3. A small Step … A Giant Leap Forward

4. Sowing the Seeds of Change  

5. Harvesting Success

6. Towards New Pathways     

7. Success Stories of Karnataka  

8. Success Stories of Maharashtra  

9. Success Stories of Rajasthan & Gujarat   

Honors / Awards:

• Research paper on Coffee Extension Management won Travel Grants Award at the International Seminar held at University of Peredenia, Srilanka during 1999. 

• Awarded three gold medals for Ph.D. thesis on Coffee Extension Management from University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore 1999. 

• Topper of M.Sc. (Agriculture Extension), University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore during 1987-89. 

• Recognized as National Extension Expert by Indian Coffee Board for a FAO sponsored project. 

Affiliation with Profession Bodies:  

• International Extension Forum (India) – Life Member. 

• Institute of Agriculture Technologies (India) – Life member.

• Agripreneurs Association of India – Advisor

• CAAM (Centre for Alternative Agriculture Media), an International body of professionals working for innovations in Agriculture Extension (www.farmedia.ord) - Founder Member.

• Associate Editor of “MANAGE Extension Research Review”, a bi-annual journal published from MANAGE.

• Recognized as Research guide by various Agriculture Universities for doctoral programme.

Countries Visited:

Visited USA, Israel, Thailand and Srilanka for academic interactions.

Languages Proficiency:

English – Read, Write and Speak

Hindi    - Read, Write and Speak

Telugu - Read and Speak

Malayalam – Speak

Kannada – Mother Tongue

Contact Details:

P. Chandra Shekara, Ph.D

Co-ordinator, Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres Cell

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)

Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500 030

Andhra Pradesh, India

Telephone (Direct):040 – 24015399      (Office)  040 – 24001266

(Cell):98483 08111

(Home)040 – 24011217

(Fax) :40 – 24001267

E-Mail: chandra@manage.gov.in,  agripreneur@manage.gov.in,
          chandrashekarap@hotmail.com