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Dr. Neelam Hema Sarat Chandra is an agricultural extension professional, teacher, researcher, and academic with a strong interest in experiential learning, organizational management, digital technology, and innovation in agricultural extension. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Extension Education Institute (EEI), Hyderabad, from 27 April 2026 onwards.
Dr. Hema Sarat Chandra began his academic career with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture from Agricultural College, Naira, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, completed during 2007–2011. He subsequently pursued his M.Sc. in Extension Education at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, from 2011 to 2013, followed by a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension at ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, during 2013–2016. He has also pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology, strengthening his understanding of learning, behaviour, motivation, and effective teaching.
His professional career spans agricultural education, extension training, and field-level technology dissemination. He served as a faculty member at a Horticultural University from December 2016 to 20 February 2018, before joining Agricultural College, Warangal, as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Extension, where he served from 21 February 2018 to 13 July 2025. He then worked as a Subject Matter Specialist (Extension) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bhadradri Kothagudem, from 14 July 2025 to 26 April 2026. He has conducted 15+Training programs including farmers, Extension officers and Students so far.Convened 3Kisan Melasat district level. Acted as NSS officer for four years along with various other administrative works in PJTAU. His diverse professional roles have provided him with experience across teaching, research, extension education, farmer-oriented programmes, capacity building, and institutional activities.
As an academic, Dr. Hema Sarat Chandra has contributed 18 research papers, 3 books, 3 book chapters, and 4 popular articles. He has also delivered two radio talks through All India Radio, contributing to the wider dissemination of agricultural and extension-related knowledge. His research interests include research gap analysis, action research in agricultural extension, and organizational management, with a particular interest in understanding how institutions, people, and processes can be strengthened for more effective extension systems. Received Best Employee Commendation Award from District Collector, Warangal on 26th January, 2024 and from District Collector, Bhadradri Kothagudem on 15th August,2025
A distinctive aspect of his professional approach is his emphasis on experiential and activity-based learning. He believes that effective teaching goes beyond transferring information and should create experiences through which learners observe, participate, reflect, and apply knowledge in real-world situations. His training and teaching approaches therefore incorporate participatory activities, managerial games, role plays, simulations, reflective exercises, and other experiential learning methods.
Dr. Hema Sarat Chandra also has a strong interest in digital technology and AI-enabled tools for education, research, communication, and content creation. He has developed expertise in using Artificial Intelligence tools, Power BI, and other digital platforms to create educational and professional content, analyse information, communicate ideas, and enhance the effectiveness of teaching and extension activities. His interests lie at the intersection of agricultural extension, human behaviour, digital technology, and innovative learning.
His academic and professional journey has taken him across several parts of India, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Punjab. Exposure to diverse agricultural systems, institutions, cultures, and extension environments has contributed to his broader understanding of the complexities of agricultural development and extension practice in India.
Beyond academics and professional responsibilities, Dr. Hema Sarat Chandra has a strong artistic inclination, particularly towards pencil portraiture. This creative dimension complements his academic interests and reflects his belief that observation, creativity, communication, and learning are closely connected.
At the core of his professional philosophy is a simple belief: effective extension and education are not merely about delivering information, but about creating meaningful learning experiences that influence knowledge, attitudes, skills, and action. His work therefore focuses on combining the strengths of agricultural extension science, experiential learning, organizational management, creativity, and digital technology to make education and extension more relevant, engaging, and impactful.