Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General

  • Leading Professional in the field of Agriculture with 31 years of experience and expertise in the areas namely Agricultural Extension Management, Agri-Entrepreneurship Development, Agricultural Marketing Management and Public-Private-Partnership.
  • During more than three decades of service, he headed three premier Agricultural Institutions in India which work for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He served as Director General (In-charge) of National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) and Director General of CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM) and is currently serving as Director General of National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)
  • As Chief Executive of these Institutions, he lead very important schemes, programs and policy interventions to strengthened Agricultural Extension System and strengthened capacity building in agricultural marketing functions for the benefit of farmers in India. He has also served as Director of several Centres, Research Projects and International Training Programs. The details of positions he held and contributions are given below:

November 2020 till Present: Director General, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad.

  • Established MANAGE FPO Academy
  • Initiated SEVA-MANAGE- involving retired Agri. professionals in agricultural development
  • Initiated National Network of Agri Journalists-MANAGE (NNAJ-MANAGE).
  • Massive expansion of partnership activities with public and private organizations.
  • Introduction of rewarding mechanism for Agri-start-ups, Agripreneurs and Academicians in Agricultural Extension.
  • Krishi Gyan Deep Knowledge Lecture Series introduced to connect last mile extension worker with inspiring leaders.
  • Establishment of project formulation centre to facilitate PPP in consultancy.
  • Webinars to connect all stakeholders in Agricultural Extension.

January to March,2021: Director General I/C, National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad.

  • National Network of Plant Health Management Experts in India.
  • Strengthened phytosanitary inspectors training by opening the sector for private participation.

April, 2018 – October,2020: Director General, CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing, Jaipur. He has made the following initiatives at CCS NIAM:

  • Established 10 Academic Centres
  • Conducted 527 Training Programs
  • Introduced Agri Start-up promotion program through RKVY-RAFTAAR
  • Successfully organised partnership research projects
  • Introduced Research Internship Programme
  • Introduced National Facilitators Development Programme
  • Initiated Induction Training Programmes
  • Strengthened Agri-Business Management education programme
  • Reintroduced modified Kisan Business School concept
  • Initiated CCS-NIAM Krishi Gyandeep Knowledge Lecture Series
  • Massive expansion of NIAM partnership activities
  • Mentored 59 Agri-Startups and funded Rs.4.68 crore as grants.

September, 2007 – March,2018:

  • Director (Agricultural Extension), National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India Responsible for carrying out Policy Advocacy, Training, Research, Consultancy, Education, Documentation and Dissemination in the field of Agricultural Extension Management. Director (Agricultural Extension) was also heading two other following centers in MANAGE.
  • Director, MANAGE Centre for Agricultural Extension Policy, Public Private Partnership and International Centre for Excellence in Agricultural Extension Management.
  • Director, Program Management Unit (PMU), Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTF ITT), MANAGE.

  • Founder Director of Centre for Agri-Entrepreneurship Development (CAD), MANAGE responsible for implementation of Central Sector Scheme of Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, Ministry of Agriculture& Farmers Welfare, Government of India (www.agriclinics.net). The scheme aims at transforming qualified Agricultural/Fisheries Professionals into Agripreneurs/Aquapreneurs who inturn setup Agri-enterprises in rural areas to provide value added extension services to the door steps of farmers. Training and Handholding support is provided to Agripreneurs across the country through network of around 100 partner institutions. Trained more than 60,000 Agricultural professionals and established more than 28,000 Agri-ventures in different parts of the country under the scheme, including several enterprises covering Plant Health Management aspects. These Agripreneurs are not only self-employed but also provide information, inputs, infrastructure and marketing support to farmers in rural areas contributing significantly to enhancement of productivity and profitability at farmers level. These Agripreneurs also created jobs for 1.26 lakh people in rural areas and also invested Rs.840 Crores in Agriculture Development. Funds to the tune of Rs.100 crores was utilized under the scheme.
  • Programme Director of Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTFITT): Funded by USAID and Govt. of India covering 20 countries of Asia and Africa. In this training program, more than 1400 executives will be trained through 44 in-country and third country training programs during 2016-2020 with fund outlay of US$ 5.96 million (Rs.38.18 crores). NIPHM was also a Partner Institution in the programme.
  • Organized International Training Programmes, Study visits funded by USAID, UNDP and Government of India and worked for implementation of bilateral MoU’s with 30 foreign countries.
  • Organized 610 national and international level training programs and completed 15 projects on different aspects of Agricultural Extension Management.
  • Published 87 Technical papers including 24 books, made 9 films and actively associated with several professional activities.
  • Executive Editor of MANAGE Journal of Agricultural Extension Management and Editor of monthly MANAGE International e-Bulletin. Initiated e-Bulletin Agripreneur” and “Voice of CCS NIAM” and Chairperson of e-Bulletin “Farm to Fork”.
  • Recognizing the contribution, Indian Society of Extension Education presented “Young Scientist Award-2007”.
  • Received “Magnum National Honour Award-2011” by Magnum Foundation, Nagpur, Maharashtra
  • “Special Appreciation Award” by Indian Society of Extension Education.
  • Received Dr. D.K. Mishra Memorial Award-2015 for contribution in Agricultural Extension by Indian Society of Extension Education during Golden Jubilee National Seminar held at BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh during 5th -7th November, 2015.
  • Honoured with “Award of Excellence” during the conference International Conference on “Doubling of Farmers Income of SAARC Countries” held at Kathmandu, Nepal during 19th-23rd Sept, 2018 organized by International Society of Extension Education (INSEE).
  • Awarded Dewang Mehtha Education Leadership Award-2019.
  • Received Life Time Achievement Award-2019 from SRDA in Agricultural Extension.
  • Received NITTE-Karnataka Bank Limited “Life Time Achievement Award-2019” for driving Agri-entrepreneurship Movement in India.
  • Worked in Academic Leadership role for Innovation Programmes namely PPP in Agricultural Extension Management i.e. Hoshangabad Model, Agri Clinics and Agri Business Centre Scheme, Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI), Extension Reforms i.e. ATMA, Feed The Future programme of USAID India, District Pest Management Programme (DPMP) involving National and International Stakeholders.
  • Served as Jury, UN Food Systems Summit SME Competition,2021, Member, Extension Group of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Doubling Farmers Income, Member, Extension Group of 11th and 12th Plan Approach paper of Planning Commission, Govt. of India, Expert Member to evaluate performance of Coffee Board and State Agricultural Universities of Karnataka.
  • Vice President of International Society of Extension Education (INSEE).
  • Advisor, Bio-Agri Inputs Producers Association (BIPA), India.

Contact Details

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)
Rajendranagar, Hyd- 500 030, Telangana, India
Phone : 040-24594505, 040-24015253, 040-24015388 (Fax)
E-mail: dgmanage@manage.gov.in