An overview of structural changes in agriculture extension in Punjab (India) since independence

The present paper attempts to analyse the beginning and development of agriculture extension and also explore the role played by it since India's independence with special reference to Agriculture Technology Management Agency, Punjab (India). The study has been conducted by using secondary data, which is collected from a variety of sources. It reveals out the fact that Agriculture extension system in India has undergone structural and institutional changes. Agriculture extension serves as useful mechanism to provide refined, need based, sustainable, area–specific and resource oriented technologies to farmers by establishing strong Research-extension-farmers-market linkages. It is a process which involves the development, transmission and diffusion of cost effective and sustainable agriculture technology, inputs and knowledge management techniques etc., to the end users, that is, farmers for adaptation through multiple facilitating agencies like, the Public Sector, Private Sector and Third Sector (Civil Society). As Agriculture is a state subject, the Agriculture extension was conceived to be a kind of public Good, which is traditionally funded and delivered by the Public Sector and played a crucial role in bringing Green Revolution in Punjab (India). The ATMA model operating at District level has restructured the Agriculture extension and holds the prominent position to cater to the interest of large number of farmers in Punjab (India).