Dr. M.G. CHANDRAKANTH
 Professor of Agricultural Economics and
Principal Investigator, TOE-NRE and Ford Foundation Project
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Agricultural Sciences
GKVK, Bangalore - 560 065
Karnataka, India
Ph: 091+080+23636295, 23637002 (O), 23356328(R)
 email: mgchandrakanth@yahoo.com and mysorec@fiu.edu ; Website: www.toenre.ac.in

Date of Birth: 30th January 1955

Academic Training

  • World Bank Visiting Fellowship, April - June 2001 in Environmental and Resource Economics at Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
  • Post Doctoral Fellowship from the Ford Foundation and the Ciriacy-Wantrup Post Doctoral Fellowship in the institutional economics of natural resources at the University of California, Berkeley (1987 - 1990) for studies on natural resource economics, forestry economics and policy.
  • Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 1977-1982; (Gold Medalist).
  • M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 1974-1976.
  • B.Sc. (Agri.) in University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 1970-1974 .

Academic Experience

  • Professor of Agricultural Economics, UAS, Bangalore since Oct 2003 till date.
  • Professor and Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics, UAS, Bangalore since February 3, 1994 till Oct 2003.
  • Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, since December 2, 1983 to February 2, 1994.
  • Assistant Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, February 2, 1982-December 1, 1983.
  • Instructor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore from August 1, 1980 - February 1, 1982.

Project experience

  • Experience in preparation of research project proposals for funding in the field of (i) Resource and Environmental economics of groundwater and watershed development and has been successful in fund raising for research from Ford Foundation and World Bank.
  • Experience in leading research team of diverse cultures and background fulfilling the objectives.
  • Experience in institution building activities and in human resource development.
  • Have been responsible in shaping the careers of several students to pursue their graduate program and post doctoral program in coveted Universities in US, Europe and Australia

Teaching Experience: Courses offered:

  • Post graduate courses: Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, Natural Resource Economics I, Research Methodology in social sciences, Agricultural Production Economics, Mathematical Economics.
  • Under graduate courses: Introduction to Agricultural Economics, Forestry Economics, Economics of Sericulture, Recent Advances in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Finance and Credit Institutions.

Work in Rice

Economics of rice cultivation under groundwater and surface water irrigation incorporating the cost(value) of surface water and groundwater in different agroclimatic zones of Karnataka. Interests also include the economics of SRI (System of Rice Intensification), economics of rice cultivation in groundwater market areas, Economics of water management in rice cultivation in command areas.

Special Honours

  • Honoured to be the Member of The Water Policy Law Group of the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
  • Consultant for SANDEE, (south association net work for development and environmental economics, based in Kathmandu) funded by Rockefeller Foundation.
  • Nominated as Editor for the International Journal of Ecology and Development.
  • Nominated as Vice President of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, (a Professional body of Agricultural Economists in India) for two years from 2000.
  • Chosen to be the Rapporteaur for the session on "Valuation of environmental and natural resources" for papers submitted during the 61st Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Dec 27-29, 2001, at Gulbarga University, Gulbarga.
  • Principal Investigator, Team of Excellence in Natural Resource Economics, funded by NATP, World Bank, at UAS, Bangalore for 1999-2003.
  • Experience in handling two exclusive research projects relating to groundwater and watershed development funded by the Ford Foundation, New Delhi

Projects handled

  • Team of Excellence in Natural Resource Economics, grant of Rs. 1.10 crores from World Bank. Worked on Economics of groundwater and surface water irrigation in rice based ecosystem of Karnataka
  • Sustainable development of watershed program, by Sujala, World Bank assisted project for Rs. 11 lakhs from Govt of Karnataka
  • The Ford Foundation, New York provided $ 41,000 to research on equity issues in groundwater development - an institutional analysis of failed irrigation wells in Karnataka for 4 years from 1994 to 1998.
  • The Winrock International, Washington DC, provided $ 1700 to research on the sustainability of management in rehabilitated irrigation tanks in Karnataka. This is a completed project.

Awards

  • Gold Medal of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore for best performance in Ph.D program.
  • Ford Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship for studies in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
  • Ciriacy-Wantrup Post-Doctoral Fellowship offered by University of California, Berkeley in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics.
  • World Bank Visiting Fellowship, April - June 2001 in Environmental and Resource Economics at Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Visits Abroad

  • World Bank Visiting Fellowship from April-2001 to June 2001, World Bank Institute, Washington DC, USA.
  • Symposium on Indigenous knowledge systems for plant protection at the Thirteenth International Plant Protection Congress, 2-7th July, The Hague, The Netherlands (CIRAN, Amsterdam).
  • Research seminar on environmental economics organized by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, (Beijer Institute), Stockholm, Sweden during May 16-21, 1995 at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
  • Seminar on Methods for Social Science Research on Non-Timber Forest Products", organized by Harvard Institute for International Development, May 18-20, 1992 at Regional Community Forestry Training Center (RECOFTC), FAO, at Kasetsart University, Bangkok,Thailand
  • Visiting fellow at ANU, Canberra, Australia, May 1992, Australian National University, Australia.
  • Second International Ethnobiology Congress, October 21-26, 1990, Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, Republic of China.
  • Ninteenth (XIX) International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress (IUFRO), Division 4, August 5-11, 1990, Montreal, Canada.
  • Annual meeting of the American Agricultural Economics Association at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, July 1988, AAAE, USA.
  • Ford Foundation Post Doctoral Fellowship and Ciriacy-Wantrup Post-doctoral fellowship from August 1987 to September 1990, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
  • Second International Conference on Social Science Resource Management, June 1988, University of Illinois, Urbana? Champaign USA.
  • Eighteenth (XVIII) International conference of Agricultural Economics from August 24, 1982 to September 2, 1982, Jakartha, Indonesia.

Consultancy Offered

  • Training of scientists in the institutes run by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Govt of India, with regard to setting research priority using economic surplus approach.
  • Member, Research Advisory committee, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Govt of India, Mysore
  • Review of research project proposals submitted by scientists of Institute of Wood Science and Technology under ICFRE, Govt of India, Bangalore.
  • Review of research proposals submitted to South Asian net work of Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE), Kathmandu, Nepal.

Other Activities

  • Responsible for success of around 12 post graduate students in seeking graduate fellowships at Univ of Idaho, Cornell University, Univ of Gent, Belgium, Agricultural University of Norway, South Australia University, Adelaide, in the field of Natural resource and environmental economics and management
  • His current interests are on economics of medicinal plants and their valuation, estimation of negative externalities in groundwater use and estimation of existence value of sacred groves.

  • His hobbies include Karnatak classical vocal music and Gamaka.

    He was invited
  • to present a paper on "Existence value of sacred groves", IUFRO, Montreal, 1990.

  • to present a paper on "Temple forests in India's forest development" - International Ethnobiology Congress, Kunming, China, 1990.

  • to participate in a workshop on "Valuation of Non-Timber Forest Products" by Harvard Institute for International Development, Bangkok, 1992.

  • to be a visiting fellow at ANU, Canberra, 1992.

  • to present a paper on "Marketing of medicinal plants at Malaysia" by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

  • to present a paper on "Indigenous knowledge in plant protection" at The Netherlands, 1995. He teaches natural resource economics, production economics and research methodology at UAS, Bangalore.

Significant Publications

  • Chaitra, B.S. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (2004), Optimal extraction of groundwater for irrigation: synergies from surface water bodies in Tropical India, Water Policy Journal, Kluwer Publications, USA (Forthcoming).

  • Lokesh, G.B. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (2004), Waste water management in Urban fringe: Cultivation of endangered medicinal plant in Karnataka, Economic and Political Weekly (Forthcoming).

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Bhat, Mahadev G. & Accavva, M.S. (2004), Socio-economic changes and sacred groves in South India: Protecting a community-based resource management institution. Natural Resources Forum 28 (2), 102-111 (United Nations Journal).

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Bisrat Alemu and Mahadev G. Bhat (2004), Combating Negative Externalities of Drought: A Study of Groundwater Recharge Through Watershed, Economic and Political Weekly, 39 (11): 1164-1170, (March 13, 2004), (special article).

  • Nagaraj, N., Shankar K., and Chandrakanth M.G., (2003). Pricing of irrigation water in Cauvery Basin - Case of Kabini Command, Economic and Political Weekly, 4518-4520.

  • Lokesh G.B. and Chandrakanth M.G., (2003). Cultivation of Sweet flag (Acorus calamus): Economic Study of an Endangered Medicinal Plant, Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 25 (2002).

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Shivakumaraswamy, B, Sathisha, K.M., Basavaraj, G., Sushma Adya, Shyamasundar, M.S. and KK Ananda, (2003).Valuing Groundwater for Irrigation In Hard Rock Areas of Karnataka, Centre for Economic and Social Sciences, Hyderabad (Forthcoming).

  • Chandrakanth M.G. (2002), Valuation of Natural and Environmental Resources: Methodology and estimation, Summaries of Group Discussion, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 57(1) : 23-30.

  • Chandrakanth M.G. and Mahadev G. Bhat (2002), Institutions, Markets and the Management of Common Property Sacred Groves in India, Paper presented at World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, Monterey, California, June 24 - 27.

  • Suneetha M.S. and Chandrakanth M.G. (2002), Trade in medicinal plants in Kerala - Issues, problems and prospects. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 24 (2002) : 756-761

  • Chandrakanth M.G., Shivakumaraswamy, B., Sathisha K.M., Basavaraj, G., Sushma Adya, Shyamasundar M.S. and Ananda K.K., (2002), Negative Externality Due to Cumulative Interference of Irrigation Wells in Groundwater Irrigation in Hard Rock Areas of Peninsular India, Paper presented at World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists, Monterey, California, June 24 - 27.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Ravishankar A, Rangesh Paramesh and Suneetha M.S. (2002), Medicinal plants - A Resource economics study, in DK Marothia (Ed) Institutionalizing Common Property Resources, Concept Publishing House, New Delhi.

  • Bisrat Alemu, Chandrakanth, M.G. and Mahadev G. Bhat, (2002), Impact of watershed development program in augmenting groundwater resource in drought situation. in K Palanisami, D Suresh kumar and B Chandrashekaran (Ed), Watershed Management, Associated Publishing Company, New Delhi, pp. 192-210.

  • Chandrakanth M.G., (2001). Valuation of Natural and Environmental Resources, Methodology and estimation, Rapporteurs Report, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 56 (3) : 564-579.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Shivakumaraswamy, B and Ananda, K.K., (1998), Economic implications of unsustainable use of groundwater in hard rock areas of Karnataka, Report submitted to The Ford Foundation, New Delhi, Dept of Agri Economics, UAS, Bangalore, March 1998, pp. 1-30.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Shyamasundar, M.S. and Ananda, K.K., (1998), Interplay of markets, externalities, institutions and equity in groundwater development - An economic study in the hard rock areas of Karnataka, Report submitted to The Ford Foundation, New Delhi, Dept of Agri Economics UAS, Bangalore, March 1998, pp. 1-45.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Sathisha, K.M. and Ananda, K.K., (1998), Resource economics study of valuation of well interference externalities in Central dry zone of Karnataka, Report submitted to The Ford Foundation, New Delhi, Dept of Agri Economics UAS, Bangalore, March 1998, pp. 1-30.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Sushma Adya and Ananda, K.K. (1998), Scarcity of groundwater for irrigation : Economics of coping mechanisms in hard rock areas. Report submitted to The Ford Foundation, New Delhi, Dept of Agri Economics UAS, Bangalore, March 1998, pp. 1-40.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Nagaraja, M.G. (1997), Existence value of Kodagu sacred groves: Implications for policy, in Anil Agarwal (Ed), The challenge of the Balance: Environmental Economics in India. Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 217-224.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., and Arun, V, (1997), Externalities in Groundwater Irrigation in Hard Rock Areas, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol 52, No.4, Oct - Dec 1997, pp. 761-771.

  • Shivakumaraswamy, B and Chandrakanth, M.G. (1997), Well interference and Aftermath: An economic analysis of well irrigation in hard rock areas of Karnataka, Artha Vijnana, Vol. 39, No.3, Sep 1997, pp. 341-359.

  • Gireesh, M, Nagaraj, N. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (1997), Rehabilitation of irrigation tanks in Eastern Zone of Karnataka - An economic analysis. Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 52, No.2, April-June 1997, pp. 231-243.

  • Nagaraj, N. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (1997), Intra and Inter-Generational equity effects of irrigation well failures - Farmers in hard rock areas of India, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 32, No. 13, March 29, 1997 (Review of Agriculture) pp. A 41-44.

  • Nagaraja, M.G. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (1997), Karnataka: Culture of Keres and Kattes, in Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain (Ed) Dying Wisdom-State of India's Environment - A Citizen's Report 4, Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi, pp. 204-205.

  • John M. Kerr, Chandrakanth, M.G. and Deshpande, R.S. (1997), Managing Groundwater Development in Karnataka, in J.M. Kerr, D.K. Marothia, Katar Singh, C. Ramasamy and W.R. Bentley (Ed) Natural Resource Economics Theory and Application in India, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 1997, pp. 421-443.

  • Chengappa, N. Nagaraj, Chandrakanth, M.G., H. Chandrashekar, D.S. Gundurao, B. Shivakumaraswamy, V.K. Arunakumar, K.S. Nagaprasad, M. Girish and TJ Lakshminarayana, (1996), Economic viability of small farmers in Karnataka. Karnataka State Planning Board, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore, Jan 1996.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., H. Ramachandra Reddy, A.L. Siddaramaiah, B. Padmodaya, S. Jagirdar and N. Basavaradhya, (1995), Plant protection practices in India based on Indigenous knowledge, invited paper presented to the symposium on 'Indigenous knowledge systems' at the 13th International Plant protection Congress, 2-7 July 1995, The Hague, The Netherlands.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., (1995), Market imperfections, transaction costs and economic scarcity of forest based medicinal plants and plant products in Karnataka, India, invited paper presented at the research seminar on environmental economics, organized by Beijer Institute, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, May 16-May 19, 1995.

  • Nagaraj, N and Chandrakanth, M.G., (1995), Low yielding irrigation wells in peninsular India - An economic analysis, 1995, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 50, No. 1, Jan-Mar 1995, pp. 48-58. (Won the Best Full Length Paper award for 1995, from Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, awarded at the Annual Conference of Indian society of Agricultural Economics, Peechi, Jan 1997).

  • Nagaraj, N, Chandrakanth, M.G. and Gurumurthy, (1994), Borewell failure in drought prone areas of Southern India: A case study, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 49, No.1, Jan-Mar 1994, pp. 102-106.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Nagaraja, M.G. (1994), Sacred groves of Coorg, Forest, Trees and People, Newsletter No. 23, Feb 1994, pp.57-59.

  • Arun, V. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (1993), Valuation of Externalities in Borewell irrigation in Hard Rock Areas of Karnataka - An empirical study, Water Management: India's groundwater challenge, VIKSAT/Pacific Institute Collaborative Groundwater Project, Ahmedabad, Dec 14-16, 1993.

  • Nagaraj, N. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (1993), Electricity pricing for groundwater irrigation in hard rock areas of the Deccan Plateau: Estimation of Willingness to Pay, Water Management: India's groundwater challenge, VIKSAT/Pacific Institute Collaborative Groundwater Project, Ahmedabad, Dec 14-16, 1993.

  • Prakash, T.N. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (1993), Sustainability in Groundwater resource development - policy implications on the subsidy foro promoting positive externalities, Water Management: India's groundwater challenge, VIKSAT/Pacific Institute Collaborative Groundwater Project, Ahmedabad, Dec 14-16, 1993.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Nagaraja, M.G., (1993), Green Deities, The Times of India Vol. 8, No.90, Jan 16, 1993, p. 15.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., (1993), Ground rules for water, The Times of India. Vol 8, No. 79, Jan 2, 1993, p. 15.

  • Narasimha, N, Chandrakanth, M.G. and Jayaramaiah, K.M. (1994), Gathering and processing activity analysis in forest based edible oil seed tree - A case study of Garcinia cambogia, Journal of Non Timber Forest Products, Vol 1 Nos 1 and 2, pp. 56-59.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Lokamanya, D.S. (1994), Market imperfections in forest based medicinal tree parts - A case study, Journal of Non Timber Forest Products, Vol 1 Nos 1 and 2, pp. 6-14.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Jeff Romm, (1991), Sacred forests, secular forest policies and people's actions, Natural Resources Journal, Vol 31, No.4, pp. 741-756, Fall 1991.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Jeff Romm, (1990), Groundwater Depletion in India‑Institutional Management Regimes, Natural Resources Journal, Vol. 30, Summer 1990, pp.485‑501.

  • Chandrakanth, M.G., Keith Gilless, Gowramma, V., and Nagaraja, M.G., (1990), Temple forests in India's forest development, Agroforestry Systems Vol. 11, No. 3, 1990, pp. 199-21.

Books published

  • Chinnappa, B., Nagaraj, N. and Chandrakanth, M.G. (2004), Valuation of irrigation induced soil degradation in Tungabhadra Project area of Karnataka - An economic analysis.

  • Varuni, C.N., Chandrakanth, M.G., and Nagaraj, N. (2003), Estimation of externalities due to use of polluted groundwater for irrigation in Kabini Command, Karnataka.
  • Hemalatha, A.C., and Chandrakanth, M.G.(2003), Estimation of externalities due to sand mining in water streams in affected riparian areas of Karnataka.

  • Shankar, K., Nagaraj, N., and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2003), Pricing of irrigation induced land degradation effects in Kabini Command, Karnataka.

  • Ravi, B.M., Suryaprakash, S. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2002), Pricing of surface water in Bhadra command area - A resource economic study.

  • Rohith, B.K., Prakash, T.N. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2002), Economics of tank irrigation in Western Ghats of Karnataka.

  • Accavva, M.S., Chengappa, P.G. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2002), Preservation of Devaraka Kadu in Kodagu district - A resource economic study.

  • Chaitra, B.S. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2002), Valuation of Synergistic role of canals and tanks in groundwater recharge in the framework of optimal control theory.

  • Sripadmini, R., Chandrakanth, M.G., and Chandrashekar, H. (2001), Relative economic performance of watershed development projects under different management protocols in Karnataka.

  • Bisrat Alemu Mengesha and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2001), Economic access to groundwater irrigation in watershed development in Karntaka.
  • Lokesh, G.B. Chandrakanth, M.G., (2001), A resource economic study of sweet flag (Acorus calamus) in Tumkur district, karnataka.
  • Chandrakanth, M.G. and Diwakara, H. (2001), Synergistic effects of watershed treatments on farm economy through groundwater recharge - A resource economic analysis.
  • Suneetha, M.S. and Chandrakanth, M.G., (2001), Demand for and valuation of medicinal plants and products in the western ghats of Kerala - A resource economics study.