Dean Of Agricultural Engineering & Technology,ANGRAU

Dr. A. Mani

Brief Profile

Dr. A. Mani, Ph. D. (IIT, Delhi) and M. Tech (IARI, New Delhi), is a distinguished academician with expertise in water management, hydrological modelling, digital agriculture, AI-driven decision-support systems, automation, RS and GIS applications in natural resources management.

Notable contributions and achievements :
  • Research & Funding: Spearheaded 8 high-impact national and international research projects, mobilizing multi-crore funding from ICAR, DST and RKVY.

  • Publications: Authored 65 articles in prestigious national and international journals and presented 30 conference papers.

  • Taught 22 courses at UG, PG, and Ph. D. levels shaping skilled graduates and young scholars.

  • Mentorship: Guided 15 Ph.D., 21 M. Tech, and 6 B. Tech students, shaping the next generation of Agricultural Engineers and researchers.

  • Curriculum Development: Introduced new M. Tech programs in Food Technology, a PG Diploma in Post-Harvest Technology, and certificate courses in AI & ML in Agriculture and Hydroponics.

  • Pioneered prototype watershed models and expanded digital learning platforms benefiting students and farmers.

Administrative Experience :
  • Dean of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, ANGRAU (29th Sep 2022 – Till date)

  • Chairman, Women Protection Cell, ANGRAU (Feb, 2024 – Till date)

  • University Head (Soil & Water Conservation Engineering, ANGRAU) (Sep, 2021 – Nov, 2022)

  • Head (SWCE), Dr NTR CAE, Bapatla (2020 – 2022)

  • Associate Dean, Dr NTR CAE, Bapatla (18th Aug, 2016 –June, 2020, June, 2022 to 27th Sep, 2022)

Research accomplishments :
  • Flood Forecasting & Mitigation: Worked with ILRI, Wageningen (Netherlands) to develop a GIS-based system using the HydroSplash model for the Krishna River sub-basin. This tool enabled accurate flood forecasting at Prakasam Barrage, preventing ₹100–150 crore in annual flood damage and supporting better land-use and irrigation planning.

  • Sustainable Cropping Models: Under the Indo–US AKI initiative with the University of Florida and NC A&T, SWAT modeling was used in the Wargal watershed to suggest shifting from paddy to irrigated dry crops. This approach improved groundwater sustainability by 20% and enhanced farm incomes by ₹20,000–25,000 per acre.

  • Kolleru lake Restoration: Identified optimal lake boundary (5 ft) to safeguard 50,000 ha of cropland and 2 lakh villagers apart from preventing ₹250–300 crores in flood losses annually. This research directly influenced state water policy.

  • Mechanization Survey: A survey of 14,816 farmers in Andhra Pradesh revealed major gaps in subsidy access and emphasized the need for inclusive mechanization and custom hiring policies. An Android app was developed for on-farm data collection and analysis.

  • Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems: Designed crop-specific solar irrigation systems that reduced per-acre diesel and electricity expenses by ₹6,000–7,000 annually ensuring payback within five years.

  • Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture: Developed and deployed on-farm filter bed systems for Musi River water for improving irrigation quality, reducing nitrogen-induced groundwater pollution, and promoting sustainable peri-urban agriculture.

  • Water-Energy Nexus strategy: The spatial water footprint of major crops was assessed to identify suitable crop production zones in Guntur, Krishna, and Prakasam districts, which face moderate blue water scarcity. It was found that paddy uses 3,800 m³ of water per ton, leading to a recommendation for crop diversification and micro-irrigation to save 2,100 million m³ of water annually.

  • Policy Influence: Delivered data-driven recommendations across mechanization, crop diversification, water allocation, flood control, water-energy optimization and renewable energy adoption directly influencing state-level agricultural and environmental policies.

Policy & Expert Contributions :
  • Member, National Expert Committee on Drone Applications in Agriculture

  • Member, Andhra Pradesh Micro-Irrigation Project, APMIP Technical Committee till 2015

  • Member, Editorial Board and Patron, Journal of Research, ANGRAU

  • Nodal Officer for edX courses and Information Technology

  • Recognized for AI and modelling expertise in flood forecasting, water management, automation, wetland conservation (Kolleru lake) and land-use planning in ecologically sensitive zones.

Professional Service :
  • External Examiner to NAARM, CRIDA, APPSC, TNAU, UAS, KAU, PJTAU, AAU, JNTU, IARI, and DST.

  • Served as Director (Education, Extension & Placement), Executive Council Member, Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (2018–2021).

  • Nominated by JNTU, Kakinada university for Board of Studies of Aditya Engineering College.

  • Life Member of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers, Indian Water Resources Society, Indian Association of Hydrologist and Indian Science Congress Association

Global Exposure :
  • Academic and research visits to Wageningen (Netherlands), University of Florida, North Carolina A&T, University of Colorado, Boulder, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Purdue university, Indiana, and the University of Western Australia fostered strategic international collaborations and advanced AI-driven hydrological modeling frameworks.

  • Facilitated global exchange opportunities for students as IDP Coordinator for International training at Oklahoma State University, USA 

Awards & Honours :
  • Honoured with Commendation Award (ISAE, 2012).

  • State Best Teacher Award (Govt. of AP, 2018).

  • Rythu Mithra Award (ICAR–IIMR, 2018).

  • Best Woman Researcher Award (Springer Nature, 2023).

  • She has been a Fellow of Institution of Engineers (India) from 2015 and recipient of Nuffic Scholarship (Netherlands Govt).