Agriculture sector plays an important role in the economy of Pakistan. It is the primary source of livelihood of the rural population of Pakistan as well as an important source of foreign exchange earnings.

For agricultural development in the country, strong linkages amongst institution building, human resource development, and technology transfer are very important. The technology transfer being a continuous process cannot possibly take place in a vacuum. It needs to be done in a well-organized system of agricultural extension where the role of the scientist, the extension agent, and the farmer are all too important. The scientist develops better yielding varieties and breeds of crops and animals, the extension agent on his part, equip himself with better and effective methods to convince the farmer of the product's utilitarian importance. Once motivated, the farmer will certainly adopt innovations for his own economic betterment.

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) therefore, being concerned with the education part of the agricultural extension system has therefore decided to initiate 4years BS Agricultural Extension to equip the students with skills and knowledge to be effective in building the capacity of the farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies and practices.

OBJECTIVES

• To improve the level of knowledge and skills of the perspective students.
• To enhance the ability and self-confidence of students of agriculture to critically analyze the Agriculture Extension service and technology transfer system with a view to identify difficulties, problems, and issues in promoting applied research in farming systems research and extension.
• To promote human resource development in agricultural extension.