Genesis and History of Department of Agricultural Extension

College of Agriculture, UAS, Bangalore

Objectives of the Department • To provide quality higher education in the field of Agricultural Extension

• Capacity building and human resource development in Leadership,

Communication, Strategies for Technology application and information

dissemination, organizational Performance Evaluation and Impact analysis of

developmental programmes.

• To conduct strategic research in agricultural extension through masters and

doctoral degree programmes

• To address extension educational problems in the farming sector through the

conduct of PG Research and Extension outreach programmes.

• To plan and execute innovative, novel and customized ways of dissemination

agricultural technologies to different stakeholders of agriculture.

History of the Degree Programme

Certificate Course • In 1958, the Agronomist, Prof. K.A. Jalihal, was designated as Associate

Professor of Agronomy – Extension and deputed to teach Extension.

• In 1958-59, a certificate course in “Extension Methods” was introduced as

optional subject

– for 60 final B.Sc. (Agri.) students of the CoA, college of Agriculture, Hebbal

(Mysore University)

• Prof. R. Daranikinath and Dean J.H. Mcleod, Extension Training Specialist

of University of Tennessee, India Agricultural Programme, T.C.M. provided

expert guidance in formulating syllabus for the certificate course.

• The participation certificate issued in 1959 laid the foundation of

extension teaching in the country.

UG Course

• By considering the student interest in the course and taking

cognizance of the importance, the Department of Agricultural

Extension came into existence during 1960-61

– with Prof. K.A. Jalihal as HoD &and the subject Agricultural Extension

was introduced as compulsory subject in the course curriculum of

B.Sc. (Agri.) degree.

• From 1962-63 the course was offered as Agricultural Extension

with practical component of Village Stay Practicals of eight

weeks undergone

– B.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agril. Marketing and Cooperation,

Sericulture, Forestry and Agricultural Engineering.

M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agricultural Extension • Inception of UAS, Bangalore 1964

• 1966-67: Trimester system of teaching brought radical changes into the

theory and practical components of the course.

• With Students’ enthusiasm for higher studies in extension, 1967-68

Masters Degree Programme in Agricultural Extension was started and the

intake of students was restricted to a few in the beginning.

• Dr. R. Dwarakinath formulated the new courses for PG programme with

suitable credit hours and guided some of the students of M.Sc. (Agri.)

extension and thus became the architect for laying foundation for PG

programme.

• The IFFCO Chair of Professor Cadre was established during 1981 and the

professor was offering courses and guidance for PG Students.

Ph.D. programme in Agricultural Extension • In view of the popular demand for Ph.D. programme by the students of state as well as Southern states like

Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, backed up by the well experienced and highly qualified faculty, and

availability of books and Journals in the subject, the Department started offering Ph.D. course in Agricultural

Extension from the academic year 1974-75.

• Prof. R. Dwarakinath and Dr. K.A. Jalihal and Dr. H.S. Hanumanthappa with the help of USAID specialists

developed advanced PG Courses with course credits and contents for offering Ph.D. scholars.

• Then onwards the teachers developed and used advanced AV aids, ICT tools and Digital equipment

effectively for teaching PG scholars.

• In 1977, Dr. Channegowda, M.B. became the first doctoral student of the department by submitting the

thesis

– “ Influence of different methods involving print information and farmers communication behaviour” – an experimental

study under the guidance of Dr. K.A. Jalihal.

• From then the intake for the degree programme gradually increased to ten scholars currently including the

ICAR deputed students from across the country and globe.

USAID Deputation

• With the USAID funding, six teachers were

deputed in sixties and seventies for higher studies

in agricultural extension

– improved their proficiency and updated knowledge

and skills in the subject of Agricultural Extension and

ultimately benefitting the academic and professional

excellence in offering PG Programmes.

Revision of Courses / Syllabus

• Doctoral curriculum and syllabi were periodically revised with

addition of portions of frontier developments in the subject

and from 2010-11 the syllabuses were revised as per ICAR

guidelines. Accordingly now, a total of 75 credit hours need to

be completed by the scholars

– 15 credit hours of major subject

– 10 credits of minor subjects

– 5 credits of supporting subjects

– 3 credits of Qualifying Examination

– 4 credit hours of Seminars

– 38 credit hours of Research.

Awards and Recognitions

• Academic excellence in Masters Degree

programme in Agricultural Extension are

recognized every year with five awards

– The UAS Gold Medal for General Merit,

– Dr. K.A. Jalihal Gold Medal

– Dr. R. Dwarakinath Gold Meddal

– Smt. Krishnamma Siddappa Gold Medal

– and LAg’s Foundation Karnataka Gold Medal

Awards and Recognitions for Doctoral Programme

• Three Doctoral theses were awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal

Nehru Award.

– 1985 : Study on the Subject Matter Specialists in the training and Visit

System of Karnataka State: A role Analysis by Dr. Y. Katteppa under

the guidance of Dr.M.K. Sethu Rao.

– 1990 : Study on Job Competence and Job Performance of Agricultural

Officers in Training and Visit System of Andrapradesh by Dr. Nagi

Reddy under the guidance of Dr. V. Veerabhadraiah.

– 1994 : Study on Management Efficiency and Economic Performance of

Sericulturists in Karnataka by Dr. N. Nagaraja under the guidance of

Dr. M.K. Sethu Rao.

University Awards for Ph.D.

• In every academic year, excellence in Doctoral programme is

recognized with three awards instituted in the University

– UAS Gold Medal for General Merit,

– Dr. K.A. Jalihal Gold Medal &

– Dr. R. Dwarakinath Gold Medal.

• Further the scholars of the programme have also received

the competitive awards Dr. Premnath Agricultural Science

Foundation Gold Medal and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Award for

Best SC/ST student

With all these growth and achievements the Department of Agricultural Extension grew in

its stature and became a most sought after department for higher studies in Agricultural

Extension

Thank you