Agriculture is the principal occupation and source of livelihood of great majority of rural population of the country and it is the basic and largest component of our economy in terms of production, output, employment, and export 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 Agri. Extension where role of the scientist, the extension agent, and the farmer are all too important. The scientist must develop better yielding varieties and breeds of crops and animals, the extension agent must, on his part, equip himself with better and effective methods to convince the farmer of the product's utilitarian importance. Once convinced, the farmer will certainly adopt innovations for his own economic betterment.

The Allama Iqbal Open University being concerned with the education part of the Agri. Extension ystem has therefore decided to initiate Master degree level courses in Agri. Extension for enhancing the knowledge and skill of the extension agents/ workers already working in the field.