Awadhesh Kumar Nema: Profile

AWADHESH KUMAR NEMA

🌿 A Visionary in Soil & Water Conservation

With 40 years of distinguished service, Awadhesh Kumar Nema stands as one of India’s most innovative voices in soil and water management, blending engineering excellence, field innovations, poetic expression, and administrative leadership.

From pioneering groundwater recharge models to creating poetic technical manuals adopted by governments, his work bridges science, culture, and grassroots empowerment.

🎓 Educational Foundation

B.Tech. (Hons.) Agricultural Engineering – Soil & Water Conservation, JNKVV Jabalpur (1982)
M.Tech. Agricultural Engineering – Soil & Water Conservation, IIT Kharagpur (1984)
Diploma in Human Resource Management, IGNOU (1997)
International Training in Watershed Management, Queensland, Australia (2000)

🛠️ Career Snapshot: 40 Years of Leadership

1. Agricultural University (1984–1987) – Scientist & Teacher

Junior Scientist/Assistant Professor, JNKVV
Guided 5 B.Tech and 1 M.Tech research projects
Taught Soil & Water Engineering at UG and PG levels

2. Agriculture Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh (1987–2020)

As Assistant Soil Conservation Officer (1987–2010)

Designed and executed:

Watercourses, field channels, contour bunds
Check dams, stop dams, percolation tanks
Micro minor irrigation tanks

Served across Sarangarh (CG), Raigarh, Bilaspur, Sironj, Sehore, Vidisha & Bhopal.

Deputy Director Agriculture – Ujjain & Bhopal (2010–2017)

Led district-level technical and administrative operations
Developed MP’s first agriculture department blog with the “Meri Bhi Suno” system for farmer submissions—launched by Hon’ble CM (2013)
Received CM’s IT Excellence Award (2013) for this innovation

Joint Director Agriculture (In-Charge), Sagar Division & PD, ATMA (2017–2020)

Commanded 6 major districts: Sagar, Damoh, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Chhatarpur
Strengthened extension systems, HR planning, and farm mechanization

3. Panchayat & Rural Development

Project Officer, Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission
Developed successful watershed models in Sehore
Guest Faculty at WALMI, NABARD & Administrative Academy
Represented India in Australia (2000) for Soil-Water Management

🌟 Major Innovations & Models

🔹 Recharge Therapy

A breakthrough analogy explaining groundwater recharge in the form of medical treatment—now used for farmer training.

🔹 Panch-J Model (Jan, Jal, Jamin, Janwar, Jangal)

Holistic sustainable village development—later implemented as a statewide campaign (2004).

🔹 Nema’s Simplified Hydrology

Hydrology simplified using everyday human measures (hand, pace, angul).
Presented at ISAE, CAE, Administrative Academy & national forums.

🔹 Grid-Based Soil Sampling

Adopted in the PM Soil Health Card Scheme (2015) in Madhya Pradesh and many other states.

🔹 Micro Minor Irrigation Tank Model

Designed tanks compatible with Irrigation Department standards.

🔹 Modified Garlic Planter for SRI Wheat

Enabled easy sowing of sprouted wheat—successfully used at KVK Ujjain.

🏛️ Key Contributions

Member, State Technical Committees for Minor Irrigation Tanks & Kapildhara Yojana
Developer of Groundwater Augmentation Model at Phanda Farm (2000), replicated across MP
“Watershed Chalisa,” “Bhoojal Dohavali,” and other poetic-technical works adopted in GoMP Mission Document (Annexure-33)
Featured in “Kamyabi Ki Unchaiya” by GoMP
Invited thrice to Pragati Maidan Krishi Mela inauguration (2000 & 2001)

📚 Publications: A Unique Blend of Poetry & Engineering

A rare combination of technical precision with Indian poetic forms:

Prabandhan Ke Mantra – 312 management sutras; endorsed by ex-Chief Secretary R. Parasuram
Lakshya Prapti Ke Sutra – 108 management lessons drawn from Ramayana
Anmol Mitti Anmol Pani – Poetic manual on agriculture
Bhoo-Jal Chikitsa Paddhati – Groundwater conservation explained in medical language
Jalgrahan Kshetra Chalisa – Watershed management in Chaupai format
Jaivik Kheti Dohavali, Bhooraksha Kawach, Vriksh Mahimavali, Mahapralay Ka Sutra, etc.

These works are widely used by farmers and recognized by the government.

🏅 Awards & Honors

National & State Awards

Rashtriya Gaurav Award (2011)
CM Excellence Award (2013) – IT in Agriculture
CM Lok Seva Award (2014) – Management Excellence
Best Citizen of India Award (2012) – International Publishing House, New Delhi

Governmental Recognition

Selected by GoMP for Australia Study Tour (2000)
Appreciated by:

Hon’ble Chief Minister of MP
Hon’ble Vice President of India
Union Agriculture Minister

Academic & Institutional Recognition

Guest Faculty at WALMI, NABARD, Administrative Academy
Frequently invited as expert interviewer in Rajiv Gandhi Watershed Mission

🏆 Signature Achievements

Designed MP Agriculture Department’s first digital blog with farmer-access system
Developed first-of-its-kind Bhoojal Chikitsa concept
Watershed models in Sehore selected as model practices by GoI
Groundwater recharge techniques at Phanda Farm replicated statewide
“Watershed Chalisa” appreciated nationally and used in official programs
Implemented Panch-J model, later adopted as state campaign
Key member of State Technical Core Group for Minor Irrigation
Worked across 85+ watersheds; valued expert evaluator
Delivered World Water Day lecture (2025), Barkatullah University
Awarded FarmFood Krishi Samman 2025 for literary excellence

🔥 Core Strengths

Innovation-driven thinking
Analytical and problem-solving expertise
Exceptional communication & presentation skills
Simplifying complex science for farmers & policymakers
Deep professional devotion and integrity

A Life Dedicated to Soil, Water & Farmers

Through his unparalleled blend of science, culture, creativity, and administration,
Awadhesh Kumar Nema has become one of India’s most respected figures in agricultural engineering—
a professional whose work has improved groundwater, empowered farmers, and enriched Indian technical literature.

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