Professional Profile
Dr. P. Chandra Shekara of Director General,
Centre on Integrated Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific(CIRDAP)
(An Inter-Governmental and Autonomous Organization for strengthening Integrated
Rural Development Systems in 15 Asia and Pacific Member Countries)
Chameli House, 17, Topkhana Road, GPO Box 2883, DHAKA-1000, BANGLADESH
Contact: +88-02-41053920; Mobile: +88-01713-031891 WhatsApp: +91 9848308111
E-mail: chandradgcirdap@cirdap.org
- Leading Professional in the field of Agriculture with 34 years of experience and expertise in the areas namely Agricultural Extension Management, Agri-Entrepreneurship Development, Agricultural Marketing Management, Rural Development and Public-Private-Partnership.
- During more than three decades of service, he headed three premier National Institutions in India which work for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. He served as Director General of CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS NIAM), Director General (In-charge) of National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) and also served as Director General of National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE).
- As Chief Executive of these Institutions, he led very important International and National schemes, programs and policy interventions for development of Agriculture through Training, Research, Consultancy, Policy Advocacy, Education, International Programmes, Implementation of Government of India Schemes, Agripreneurship Development, Agri. Startups Promotion, Documentation and Dissemination in Agriculture Development.
- September’ 2024 onwards: Director General, Centre on Integrated Rural Development in Asia and the Pacific(CIRDAP), (An Inter-Governmental and Autonomous Organization for strengthening Integrated Rural Development Systems in 15 Asia and Pacific Member Countries), DHAKA, BANGLADESH.
> Initiated Research Programmes on Women and Youth Development in Iran, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal.
> Initiated “Voice of CIRDAP” a monthly e-Bulletin which reaches 1.11 lakhs Stakeholders.
- November 2020 to August, 2024: Director General, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, India.
> Trained Senior Executives from 20 African and Asian Countries as project leader under Feed the Future India Triangular Training (FTF-ITT) Programme funded by USAID.
> Project Leader of US – India – Africa Triangular Training Programme.
> Key partner of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India for implementation of Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC) Programmes covering more than 25 countries.
> Worked closely with Michigan State University, FAO, GIZ, AARDO, DEULA-Germany, ICRISAT, World Bank, IFAD, UNDP and more than 40 bilateral agreements.
> Established Michigan (MSU) – MANAGE Centre for Agriculture Development in African and Asian Regions at MANAGE, Hyderabad.
> Worked with 2000 Agri Startups through incubation, fund support and monitoring.
> Reached 1.46 lakh stakeholders annually through various programmes in partnership with 220 institutional partnerships.
> Trained more than 60,000 Rural Youth in Agripreneurship.
> Trained more than one lakh Input Dealers as Para Extension Professionals through DAESI programme.
> Established more than 40,000 Agriventures across the country under AC&ABC Scheme of GoI.
> Trained of 60,000 Krishi Sakhis in Natural Farming.
> Introduction of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) on Digital Platform.
> Completed 18 Research Studies, Action Research and Consultancy Projects.
> Affiliated with 37 important Committees / Professional Bodies.
> Council Member, World Agriculture Forum, Netherlands.
> Vice President of International Society of Extension Education (INSEE), India.
> Established MANAGE FPO Academy
> Initiated SEVA-MANAGE- involving retired Agri. professionals in agricultural development
> Initiated National Network of Agri Journalists-MANAGE (NNAJ-MANAGE).
> Introduction of rewarding mechanism for Agri-start-ups, Agripreneurs, Agri. Film Makers, Academicians in Agricultural Extension.
> Krishi Gyan Deep Knowledge Lecture Series introduced to connect last mile extension workers with inspiring leaders.
> Initiated Jai Jawan Kisan for the introduction of ex-soldiers into Agriculture.
> Established MANAGE CSR Forum
> Strengthened MANAGE National Facilitators Development Programme
> Introduced Induction Training for newly recruited Agricultural Officers, Refresher Training, CEO Executive Development Programme, International Study Programme for Agribusiness Management Students.
- January to March, 2021: Director General I/C, National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Hyderabad, India
> 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, India. He has made the following initiatives at CCS NIAM:
> Established 10 Academic Centres
> Introduced Agri Start-up promotion program through RKVY-RAFTAAR
> Successfully organised partnership research projects and training programmes
> 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
- September, 2007 – March, 2018: Director (Agricultural Extension), National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. 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 three other following Centres 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)
- September, 1999 – September, 2007: Deputy Director (Agricultural Extension) at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, India.
- May,1990 – September, 1999: Junior Liaison Officer (Manpower Development), Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India.
- Published 81 Technical papers including 25 books.
- Awards:
> Extension Leadership Award, 2023 in the International Extension Education Conference 2023 (IEEC 2023) organized by Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during 27-30 January, 2023.
> NITTE-Karnataka Bank Limited Life Time Achievement Award, 2019 for driving Agri-entrepreneurship Movement in India.
> Dewang Mehta Education Leadership Award – 2019.
> Award of Excellence during the International Conference on “Doubling of Farmers Income of SAARC Countries” held at Kathmandu, Nepal during 19-23rd September 2018 organized by International Society of Extension Education (INSEE).
> Life Time Achievement Award-2019 from SRDA in Agricultural Extension.
> Young Scientist Award, 2006 conferred by Indian Society of Extension Education, New Delhi. - Countries visited:
> USA, Kenya, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Israel, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malaysia and Iran.
- Educational Qualifications:
> Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension awarded from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1999 with Three Gold Medal.
> Post-Graduate Degree – M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1989 and topped 1987-89 batch.
> Bachelor’s Degree – B.Sc., (Agriculture) from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in 1987.