About Dr. Shaik N.Meera About Dr. Shaik N. Meera Dr. Shaik N Meera.pdf · About Dr. Shaik N.Meera 1 About Dr. Shaik N. Meera 1. Overview of research and extension contributions of

About Dr. Shaik N.Meera

1

About

Dr. Shaik N. Meera

1. Overview of research and extension contributions of Dr. Shaik N.Meera

Dr Shaik N Meera is a Senior Scientist (Agricultural Extension) with a cafeteria of skill sets and achievements in Agricultural Research & Development. He is one of the earliest extension scientists who contributed to the

development of ICT enabled extension in India.

As Consortium Principal Investigator, he is spearheading a flagship project on

“Development and Maintenance of Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP)”. This is the first extension centric information portal in India, providing the most comprehensive

agricultural knowledge directly from the scientific community. Rice Knowledge Management

Portal was launched in the presence of Honorable Prime Minister of India on 16th July 2011.

As a Principal Investigator of DBT Sponsored project on “Improving the Livelihoods

of SC/ST Farmers through Rice Technology Interventions”, he is instrumental in uplifting 120

tribal farm families directly. Intensive extension efforts were tried in 12 tribal hamlets over a

period of 3 years to achieve this.

As National Coordinator of Frontline Demonstrations on Rice, in last 5 years, about

5322 FLDs of 1 hectare each have been conducted benefitting 13,755 rice farmers directly. About 2064 tonnes of seed of HYV, Hybrids is distributed to farmers through this

programme. An innovative attempt has been made to document all the demonstration efforts using the latest ICT tools and compiled as a database. This database is included in the rice

knowledge management portal (www.fld.rkmp.co.in) for effective use by the extension workers.

As Coordinator of training programmes, in last five years, totally 19 training programs on various aspects of rice production technologies were organized including IPM

in rice, Quality control on basmati rice, Marker assisted selection in rice, Hybrid rice

breeding, Hybrid rice production technology, System of Rice Intensification and Hybrid rice

seed production technology. In total 417 participants from state department of agriculture,

state agricultural universities, ICAR institutes and executives from public and private sectors were trained.

As a young scientist he carried out the research on various aspects of harnessing ICTs in agricultural development with special reference to the ICTs enabled agricultural extension.

His work on Applications of E-Learning in Agriculture: Designing an ODL Content Management System for Rice Technologies is perhaps the only empirical study conducted on

assessing the e-readiness parameters in extension systems.

As Principal Investigator of several extension research projects, involved in

developing and using innovative approaches for transfer of technology and extension education processes. Some of the innovations include


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• use of Information and Communication Technologies for speedy transfer of

knowledge & technologies

• Harnessing Knowledge Management strategies for strengthening the information

flow in rice sector

• Village Level Studies on Climate change: Vulnerability, Adaptations and Sustainable

Livelihoods in Rice Farming

• Developing e-learning courses for online and offline delivery to extension officers

• Participatory varietal selection and Farmers’ First Approach

• Video and Audio files for transferring ‘do how’ technologies

• Capturing the innovative spirit of rice farmers by organizing ‘Innovative Rice

Farmers Meet’

As author of several research articles, books, extension bulletins and manuals,

contributed to enrichment of the extension discipline. His book “ICTs in Extension- Tactical to Practical” is recognized as Reference book by ICAR for the Discipline of Agricultural

Extension (M.Sc/ Ph.D syllabus).

As field researcher, he has done extensive surveys on “Critical Analysis of

Information Communication Technology in Agricultural Development” during the past

ten years. His Agriculture Research Extension Network (AgREN) paper of Department Fund

for International Development (DFID) of UK is high quality evidence and is in the top 200

ICT4D resources online.

With exemplary academics, he was the topper of the National level Agricultural

Research Service for the Recruitment of Scientists, conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), during the year 2001. He is the recipient of VN Gold Medal,

Young Scientist Awards for his doctoral work, Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) of ICAR for Ph.D. programme (1999-2002), Junior Research fellowship (JRF) of ICAR for M.Sc

programme (1997-99), Telugu Vigyana Paarithoshikam, a merit scholarship of Government of Andhra Pradesh, India for 1990.

He has visited United States of America, Philippines and Sri Lanka

Skill Sets

In depth know-how and do-how of applications of advance extension methodologies

Proven abilities in planning and executing ICT mediated KM projects in agriculture

Developing and maintaining semantic agricultural portals (especially in rice farming)

Effectively harnessing innovative extension approaches with visible impacts

Developing Knowledge Systems for effective Knowledge Encapsulation and Service Integration

for web and mobile apps

Technology refinement, commercialization and targeting strategies

Planning and executing large scale extension programmes

Innovative applications of Knowledge Management strategies in agriculture

Handling consortia with extension centric methodologies

Well versed with web 2.0 and web 3.0 tools

Expertise in Village Level Studies on Climate change: Vulnerability, Adaptations and Sustainable

Livelihoods in Rice Farming


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2. General Profile

1. Name and designation

Shaik N. Meera Senior Scientist (Agricultural Extension)

2. Date and place of birth

8 April 1974 Nandigama (Andhra Pradesh -India)

3. Marital status Married

4. Postal and telecommunication

address

Transfer of Technology and Training Section Directorate of Rice Research

Rajendranagar Hyderabad 500 030. India

5. Telephone, email, Fax, etc. Tel (O): 040-24591295 Fax (O): 040-24591217

Mobile: +91-9000680909 E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

3. Educational qualifications beginning with the first-degree or Equivalent

S.

No.

Degree Institution Year Subject (s) with

major field

Remarks

1. B. Sc

(Agriculture)

Acharya N.G. Ranga

Agricultural University,

Hyderabad, Andhra

Pradesh

1996 Agricultural

and allied

sciences

Grade Points

7.91/10.00

2. M. Sc

(Agricultural

Extension)

Indian Agricultural

Research Institute

(IARI), New Delhi

1999 Agricultural

Extension

Awarded ICAR Junior

Research Fellowship (JRF)

3.77/4.00

3. Ph. D

(Agricultural

Extension)

Indian Agricultural

Research Institute

(IARI), New Delhi

2003 Agricultural

Extension

(ICT enabled

Extension)

ICAR Senior Research

Fellowship (SRF)

3.75/4.00

Won Vasantrao Naik Gold

Medal

4. Employment record

S.

No.

Position held Employer

Place of work

Duration Nature of work

1 Senior Scientist-

Agricultural Extension

Indian Council of

Agricultural Research Directorate of Rice

Research

Hyderabad - India

September

2008 to Till date

Agricultural Extension Research,

Extension activities, Coordinating Frontline

Demonstrations of Macro-

management scheme, Training

and capacity building and

leading externally aided

projects.

Consortium Principal Investigator for Rice Knowledge

Management Portal, first of its kind in Indian extension

2 Scientist (Senior Scale)-Agricultural

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

April 2007 to

Agricultural Extension Research, Extension activities,


4

Extension Directorate of Rice

Research

Hyderabad - India

September

2008

Coordinating Frontline





projects.

3 Scientist -

Agricultural

Extension

Indian Council of

Agricultural Research

Directorate of Rice

Research

Hyderabad - India

August 2006 to

April 2007


Extension activities,

Coordinating Frontline





projects.

4 Scientist -

Agricultural

Extension

Indian Council of


Central Rice Research

Institute

Cuttack, India

August 2003 to

August 2006


Extension activities, Training

and capacity building, In-charge

ARIS cell

4 Scientist -

Agricultural

Extension

FOCARS training

Indian Council of


National Academy of


Management

Hyderabad - India

April 2003 to

August 2003

Foundation Course

Secured ‘A’ grade

5. In service awards/ Peer recognition

Name of the

Award/Prize/Recognit

ion/Reviewer

Awarding Organization

(place/

country)

Year National/International,

Institutional /Professional

Society

Young Scientist award

Indian Society of Extension Education

IARI, New Delhi

2008 National Professional Society

Young Scientist award

Kerala State Council for Science

Mitraniketan KVK

International Extension Forum

2004 National/

International,

Institutional /Professional

Society

Vasant Rao Naik Gold Medal

National Seminar on “Responding To Changes And Challenges: New

Roles Of Agricultural Extension” Nagpur

2003 Maharashtra Society of Extension Education,

Vasantarao Naik Smruti Pratisthan and

International Extension Forum

Reviewer

Journal of Agricultural Education

and Extension

2007 Wageningen University, The

Netherlands

Referee

(Project proposal on

ICTs)

International Foundation for

Science, Stockholm, Sweden

2007 International Society

Invited speaker International Rice Research

Institute

2011 Workshop on ICTs and Mobile

Apps for Small Farmers

6. Publications


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Following publications of him are testimonials of the extensive work done by him, in a short span of less

than eight years.

• International Refereed Research Network (Policy) Paper -1

• International Refereed Journal Research Papers - 6

• International Book Chapters (Springer)-1

• National Refereed Journal Research Papers – 6

• Books Published (Authored) – 6

• Books Published (Edited) - 6

• Book Chapters – 11

• Training Manuals – 7

• Important Conference papers/popular articles – 12

References of few best publications:

1. Shaik N. Meera, GAK Kumar, PS Pandey, S Arun Kumar and BC Viraktamath (2012). Empowering

Farmers through Rice Knowledge Management Portal in India. Agricultural Information and Knowledge

for All: Success Stories on ICT/ICM in the Asia-Pacific Region. Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural

Research Institutions (APAARI). FAO Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific. Bangkok

2. Meera Shaik N, Balaji V, Muthuraman P, Sailaja B and Sreenath Dixit (2011). Changing Roles of

Agricultural Extension: Harnessing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Adapting to

Stresses Envisaged Under Climate Change. In: B. Venkateshwarulu et al. (eds.), Crop Stress and its

Management: Perspectives and Strategies, Springer Science+Business Media. 583-603

3. Meera Shaik N, Mangal Sain, Muthuraman.P, Arun Kumar S, Sailaja B. , Jyothi SSP and Viraktamath BC,

(2010). Critical Analysis of E-learning opportunities and E-readiness in the Public Extension System:

Empirical evidence from Tamil Nadu. Journal of Global Communication, Global Communication Research

Association, Sydney. 3(2): 11-18.

4. Meera Shaik N, Arun Kumar S , Amtul Waris, Vara Prasad C, Muthuraman P, Mangal Sain and

Viraktamath BC (2010). E-Learning in Extension Systems: Empirical Study in Agricultural Extension in

India. Indian Journal of Extension Education. 46 (3&4): 94-101.

5. Meera Shaik N, Arun Kumar S, Muthuraman.P, Chiranjivi. K, Rajender Reddy and Mangal Sain (2010).

Socio-economic Assessment and Sustainable Livelihood Analysis in Rice Farming System. Journal of Rice

Research, Society for Advancement of Rice Research, Hyderabad. 3(2): 60-67.

6. Shaik N. Meera, S. Arun Kumar, P. Muthuraman, K. Chiranjivi, V. Rajender Reddy and Mangal Sain

(2011). Rice Farming Systems in Backward Regions: Socio-economic assessment and sustainable

Livelihoods. Journal of Agricultural Extension Management. 12 (1): 77-97.

7. Shaik N. Meera (2008). Transforming Extension through ICTs: Issues and Strategies for Developing

World. Journal of Global Communication, Global Communication Research Association, Sydney. 1 (1): 68-75.

8. Balaji, V, Shaik N.Meera and S. Dixit (2007). ICT-enabled Knowledge Sharing in Support of Extension: Addressing the Agrarian Challenges of the Developing World Threatened by Climate Change, with a

Case Study from India. http://www.icrisat.org/Journal/SpecialProject/sp9.pdf. E-Journal of Semi Arid

Tropics (SAT) Agricultural Research.4 (1).

9. Meera, N. Shaik and Anita Jhamtani (2005) Future Projections of use of Information Technology in

Agricultural Development in India. Indian Journal of Extension Education. 40(1&2): 1-7


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10. Meera, Shaik. N., Jhamtani, Anita and Rao, D.U.M. (2004). Information and Communication Technology

in Agricultural Development: A Comparative Analysis of three projects from India. Agricultural Research

and Extension Network (AgREN) Paper 135 (Sponsored by DFID, UK). Over Seas Development Institute,

London, UK. pp 20. http://www.odi.org.uk/agren/papers/agrenpaper_135.pdf

11. N. Meera, Shaik and D.U.M. Rao (2003). Evaluation of Information and Communication Technology

Projects in Developing World; Formulating a Prospective Methodology. Manage Extension Research

Review. IV (2); p 138-150.

12. N.C.Rath and N. Meera, Shaik (2005). Rural Radio in Agricultural and Rural Development. Manage

Extension Research Review. VI (1); p 75-85.

13. Meera, Shaik. N., Jhamtani, Anita and Rao, D.U.M. (2003). An Analysis of Agricultural Information

Communication Technology Projects in India: Implications to the Agricultural Extension System.

Tropical Agricultural Research. Sri Lanka 15: 51-59

Other publications

14. Meera Shaik N (2010). ICT enabled Extension Approaches in India: Tactical Synthesis to Practical Framework. Technical Souvenir of Global Meet. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. P 110-

117.

15. Shaik N. Meera, Vara Prasad, Mangal Sain, S. Arun Kumar and BC Viraktamath (2011). In vogue

Extension Tools (Offline CD). Rice Knowledge Management Portal, Directorate of Rice Research,

Hyderabad

16. Shaik N. Meera, P. Muthuraman, Mangal Sain, S. Arun Kumar and BC Viraktamath (2011).

Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Rice Farming (Offline CD). Rice Knowledge Management Portal,

Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad

17. Shaik N.Meera, Brajendra, S. Mangrautia , Elias Khan and Mangal Sain (2011). Rice Vocs

(Compendium of rice related terms). Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad Pp. 153

18. Shaik N.Meera (2010). E-COURSES for Rice Workers. (16) in number. www.rkmp.co.in

19. Meera, Shaik N. (2008). Biotechnology and Extension. Unit12 of Block-3 of Course -01. Ph.D.

Programme in Agricultural Extension. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi

20. Shaik N.Meera, S. Arun Kumar, P.K. Saha and B.C. Viraktamath (2011). A Brief Report on Frontline Demonstrations on Rice. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 67

21. Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2010). A Bulletin on Frontline Demonstrations on Rice.

Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 64.

22. Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2009). A Bulletin on Frontline Demonstrations on Rice. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 56.

23. Ilyas Ahmed, Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2008). Popularization of Hybrid Rice – FLDs and

Beyond. Technical Bulletin No.28/2008. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 45.

24. Ilyas Ahmed, Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2008). A Bulletin on Frontline Demonstrations

on Rice. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 72.

25. Ilyas Ahmed, Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2007). Seeing is Believing. Encouraging Adoption through Frontline Demonstrations. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp.93.


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26. Ilyas Ahmed, Shaik N.Meera and B.C. Viraktamath (2006). A Bulletin on Frontline Demonstrations

on Rice. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Pp. 41.

Books

27. Shaik N.Meera (2008). ICTs in Extension: Tactical to Practical. Ganga- Kaveri Publishers. Varanasi.

Pp.248.

28. Dipak De, Basavaprabhu Jirli and Shaik N. Meera (2011). ICTs: Digital Opportunities in Agricultural

Extension. Agrobios (India) Jodhpur. Pp 516.

Offline CDs

29. Shaik N. Meera, P. Muthuraman, Mangal Sain, S. Arun Kumar and BC Viraktamath (2011). Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Rice Farming (Offline CD). Rice Knowledge Management Portal,

Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad

30. Shaik N. Meera, Vara Prasad, Mangal Sain, S. Arun Kumar and BC Viraktamath (2011). In vogue

Extension Tools (Offline CD). Rice Knowledge Management Portal, Directorate of Rice Research,

Hyderabad

7. Any other relevant experience/training

7.1 International training

Deputation to International Rice Research Institute, Philippines (18 November – 09 December 2009)

I had undertaken a visit under the ICAR-IRRI collaborative workplan 1.18 “Improving the impact of rice

research through improved knowledge management to support extension community”.

The visit helped me to get an in-depth understanding of the following.

• Developing insights for knowledge management with a special reference to Rice Knowledge Bank of

IRRI and Open Academy of Philippine Agriculture (OPAPA) of Phil Rice.

• Developing strategies to synergize the efforts of IRRI (with CSISA &STRASA) and DRR/ICAR (with

RKMP).

• Content from IRRIs e-learning material is planned to be used for our project on RKMP.

First hand information on operational issues in handling Knowledge Banks help in strengthening ongoing

RKMP project. Learning material developed during the visit (like e-extension courses) will be hosted

through RKMP. Working on Rice Doctor of IRRI gave an opportunity for developing similar products for

RKMP. Collaborative work plan proposed will help us sustaining the RKMP even after the project period.

The visit undertaken for a period of 21 days was very useful for me to get a firsthand experience about the

Rice Knowledge Bank of IRRI and other KM initiatives. This has helped in learning how such projects should

be meticulously planned and executed. The visit and interactions also gave a good perspective of managing

rice knowledge management initiatives in India with special reference to RKMP. The resources and content

from RKB of IRRI can be best utilized after due customization.

Deputation to Iowa State University, Ames, USA (October 7 to October 28, 2010)


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I had undertaken a 22 days training & study visit on “Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

mediated Agricultural Knowledge Management” at Iowa State University (United States of America).

Knowledge Management in agriculture is relatively a new concept. The mammoth task of driving the

knowledge sharing process in rice requires lot of capacity building exercises. Training on Knowledge

Management strategies, exposure to knowledge management initiatives in agriculture worldwide, acquiring

the first hand information and managerial skills for sustaining the RKMP etc., helped me immensely. This

helps strengthening and sustaining the RKMP in all future endeavors. Further this may also help planning

future KM Portals of ICAR.

Other learnings from the deputation include field level exposure on:

• ICT mediated knowledge management processes along with ICT tools

• Training on select ICT tools for decision making. Develop insights on e-knowledge

transformation

• Quick data analysis and case studies related to with a focus on KM initiatives

• To develop insights that would be helpful for effectively implementing KM/ICT enabled

agricultural projects in India

The learning experiences gained and insights developed during the study visit are given below;

The expertise developed is useful in refining the innovative concepts of KM in Indian Agricultural extension

system. Training cum study visit helped in planning strategies that strengthen and sustain the RKM Project

even after the project period.

Deputation to International Rice Research Institute, Philippines (December 5 – 10, 2011)

The workshop helped me identifying the state of knowledge, concepts, and a way forward on ICT and mobile

applications for rice sector. My participation in the workshop helped develop insights for operationalizing

such mobile apps using RKMP/RKB content.

A presentation was made on “Opportunities for Formulating Knowledge into Mobile and Web messaging

personalized”.

Low sustainability of most of the mobile apps is due to lack of credible, contextualized Information that is

pushed through them. Hence credible and validated information and hence the knowledge repositories are

not sufficient, but essential component for Mobile apps. We need to identify what time critical/ mission

critical information will be provided using mobile apps. The question is that whether repositories cater to

these requirements? If yes, how to use Knowledge Repositories for Mobile Apps?

RKB, RKMP - Full sites/ Portals Designed for desktop computers. For Mobile apps these may not best suited

in the present form. Hence there is a need to transform e-content into m-content. According to me - Mobile

apps tasks (user side) can be categories into following Tasks

• Highly specific tasks (Diagnostics, Nutrient Manager)

• Directed, but less specific (Varieties, alerts, contingency plans, Expert Answers)

• Open-ended Tasks (GAP, Weed Management, Govt. Schemes)

• Web-wide Tasks (General searches)

7.2 Long term training courses in India


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Refresher Course on “GIS Based Decision Support Systems for Agriculture” 21 days (2-23 July, 2006) at

National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, India.

Refresher Course on “Information technology in Agricultural Development” 21 days (3 – 23 Feb, 2005)

at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, India.

7.3 Short term training courses in India

Training and workshop on “Use of ICT Tools for Improving Access to Agricultural Information at Grassroots

Level” (5 days , October 30- November 3, 2006) at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management,

Hyderabad.

Attended a training cum workshop on “Leadership for Innovation in Agriculture” (5 days, 8-12 June 2009)

at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) MANAGE, Hyderabad.

Attended a two day workshop on ‘Crop Knowledge Models’ (2 days, 12-13 January 2009) organized by the

NAIP Consortium led by ICRISAT at NASC Complex, New Delhi

Glimpses of Important Books Authored:


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Some of the training manuals published


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8. Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP) – A testimonial for effective planning and

executing nation level projects

As a first step towards harnessing ICT enabled Knowledge Management strategies, an exclusive portal on rice viz., Rice Knowledge Management Portal (RKMP) is being developed by Dr. Shaik N. Meera. The time

taken for implementing a project of this scale is about 30 months.

The RKMP has several global firsts in terms of comprehensiveness and utility. Built on web 2.0 standards,

this portal caters to location specific information needs of many stakeholders (policy makers, farmers,

extension professionals, researchers, traders, NGOs etc.,) on 24X7 basis. IP based customization helps

individuals to browse through location specific content.

Providing content in local language is another striking feature of this portal. The Extension and Farmers

domain has about 4000 pages of high quality information in ready to use form. About 55 video clips and

5000 minutes of audio clips are hosted in this portal for those who wish to listen and see the content. Expert

Answers on Rice (EAR) aims at answering the farmers queries in English and local languages. For this 152

rice scientists are registered as experts. Contingency plans for rice cultivation may also be disseminated

through SMS/ mobile phones. Online fertilizer recommendation system (Fertimeter) will help extension

workers to recommend appropriate fertilizer dosages. Various support platforms such as weed

management, frontline demonstrations, extension methods, ITKs are provided that will help extension

workers. Completely image based diagnostic tool for rice pests/ diseases/abiotic stresses is one the most

innovative application of the portal. Farmers’ innovations find a place in this domain.

In research domain of RKMP, various services are provided such as AICRIP Intranet, archives of AICRIP data

(of last 45 years), communities of practice (CoP), bio-informatics suite, approach papers, India Rice Research

Repository (i3R), status papers on rice for different states etc.,

The portal operates two e-learning platforms providing learning opportunity to scientists and extension

workers. This helps the officials of state departments of agriculture in refreshing their knowledge on regular

basis. This portal also maintains the trade information system catering to information needs of exporters

and farmers. Indexing of mandi prices of paddy from regulated market yards (from Agmarknet) is another key feature of the portal.

Using this portal policy makers can directly access area, production, productivity trends (of last four decades) upto district level. Regular rice related news, rice is life, rice end products, virtual rice resources,

interesting facts about rice etc., are also hosted on this site.

This portal is an example of harnessing the enormous potential of ICT/KM strategies into existing structural

components of organizations

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