The Department of Agricultural Extension came into being during 1960-61 and started offering courses in Agricultural Extension to the final year B.Sc. (Agri) students, as one of the compulsory subjects in the Degree Course Curriculum. Dr. K.A. Jalihal was the first prof. & Head of the Dept. of Agricultural Extension.

The subject of Agricultural Extension was a new discipline and many teachers in the University were not aware of. It was the youngest discipline at that time when compared to other disciplines. Later on, it started offering Postgraduate courses from 1966-67. The University introduced a new practical multi-disciplinary course titled “Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme (RAWEP) at the college level for the final year students of all undergraduate programmes during 1995-96. This programme was of one semester duration with a total 20 credit hours. This was a unique programme as it provided scope for the involvement of all the departments in the process of implementation at village level. The Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, the then Professor of Agricultural Extension served as Co-coordinator and Coordinated meticulously the activities of different departments at the village level. The Department of Agricultural Extension has been providing leadership in the organization of this programme and coordinates the activities of RAWE Programme.

During the year 2012-13 the university restructured the RAWE programme instead of VIII semester the RAWE courses were offered in the VII semester, since, it coincided with the cropping season and they were placed in Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKS) and village stays extended from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, which provided real time opportunity for the students to work intensively with farm families to gain experience of land based enterprise and introduce new technologies through various extension methods. It also helped in establishing linkages with various partners involved in agricultural development. It also helped the teachers to understand the performance of technologies introduced by students. Further it helped the farmers in getting appropriate and timely technical guidance leading to timely adoption of technologies, which realized better profits. The Govt. of Karnataka had extended stipend to each student @ Rs. 1500/- per month besides, extending other facilities for effective implementation of the programme.

Based on the IV Deans committee recommendations, the department started offering two experiential learning/Hands on training (Hot) courses viz., Agricultural journalism & Multimedia Production since 2010-11. These courses gave thrilling experience to students in using modern audio-video editing softwares’. The students have produced documentary films on various aspects of Agriculture.

Over the last four and a half decades, the department has produced 408 M.Sc. (Agri.) and 105 Ph.D. graduates in Agricultural Extension. Many of the alumni of this department have occupied high positions in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Few of the Iranian, Afghan and African nationals who obtained postgraduate degrees from this department are performing well as extension professionals in their respective countries. Realizing the importance of Extension Education discipline in rural development, the Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative (IFFCO) instituted a professional chair in the department during 1981. The teachers are using modern ICT tools like computers, LCD projectors, DVDs, laptops, digital cameras and other AV aids in teaching the students.

This department is one of the biggest departments in the University; consisting of Sociology, Psychology, and English disciplines under its fold. Today, the Department is proud to have one of its alumni, Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, as the illustrious Vice- Chancellor of this great University.