Prof. Leshma Manogna Ramappagari | Food Security | Best Researcher Award

BITS Pilani, India

Author Profile

ORCID

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

🎓 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Leshma Manogna R. began her interdisciplinary academic journey with a B.E. in Computer Science & Engineering from BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus (2013), followed by an MBA in Analytics & Finance from the prestigious Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai (2016). Her passion for blending quantitative analysis with socio-economic research culminated in her Ph.D. in Agricultural Commodity Markets from BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus (2021).

🏢 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Transitioning seamlessly between academia and industry, Dr. Manogna’s early professional experience includes impactful roles such as:

• Consultant Analyst at Meritus Analytics (WPP), Bangalore (2013–2014)

• Analytics Consultant at FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation), Bangalore (2016–2017)

Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics & Finance at BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus since May 2021, where she teaches Financial Management, Security Analysis, and Portfolio Management.

📚 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS IN FOOD SECURITY

Her doctoral work titled:
“Market Efficiency and Financialization of Indian Agricultural Commodity Markets: An Empirical Investigation”
lays a robust empirical foundation for understanding agricultural market dynamics, a vital area intersecting food security, economic resilience, and agribusiness policy.

Her ongoing projects sponsored by NABARD and ICSSR examine the impact of e-NAM (electronic National Agricultural Market) on farmer participation in Goa and Maharashtra, offering strategic insights into digital agri-market integration and its role in enhancing food system efficiency.

🏅 ACADEMIC CITATIONS, ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION

Awards & Honours:

• Director’s Young Investigator Award, BITS Pilani Research Awards, 2025

• Young Woman Researcher in Commodity Markets, Venus International Foundation, 2025

• Her Research, Our Future Award, Ministry of Education & ICSSR, 2024

• Young Scientist Award, International Conference for Award Winners, 2021

• University 3rd Rank & Bronze Medal, NMIMS, Mumbai, 2016

Her research is frequently cited in academic and policy-oriented studies related to agricultural market efficiency, financial econometrics, and agribusiness development.

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Manogna’s research is directly aligned with rural economic transformation, agricultural financial inclusion, and commodity market policy reforms. Her contributions influence:

• National agricultural strategies

• Digital transformation of markets (e-NAM)

• Farmer-centric policy implementations

Through field research and data-driven analysis, she bridges theory and practice, positively influencing rural livelihoods and market access.

🧭 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

Dr. Manogna is steadily shaping a legacy centered on:

• Empowering Indian farmers through market literacy

• Enhancing commodity market transparency

• Pioneering econometric models for agricultural systems

Her future research intends to extend to:

• Climate-resilient commodity pricing

• Technology adoption in agri-finance

• Food security risk mitigation strategies

 ✅CONCLUSION

With a rare blend of computational acumen, financial insight, and agricultural expertise, Dr. Leshma Manogna R. exemplifies a multi-disciplinary scholar deeply committed to the transformation of India’s agricultural markets. Her work resonates with national priorities of food security, digital agriculture, and financial empowerment, making her an influential figure in economic research and rural development.

🔬NOTABLE PUBLICATION: