Institutional Dynamics of Agricultural Extension in Andhra Pradesh: A Secondary Data Analysis

Abstract

Agricultural extension systems bridge the gap between research institutions and farming communities. Over the last two decades India has pursued a series of extension reforms to make extension services more demand driven, pluralistic and accountable. Andhra Pradesh (AP), one of the country’s major agricultural states, provides a useful case for analysing how extension institutions have evolved, how they are structured at multiple tiers of government, and how reforms have altered their performance. This paper draws on secondary data from government reports, official websites, academic publications and policy documents to examine the institutional dynamics of agricultural extension in AP between 2012 and 2025. The study uses the Agricultural Extension System (AES) framework, pluralistic extension theory, institutional theory and governance models to contextualise public and private actors, their interactions and the drivers of change. A literature review synthesises studies on institutional performance, public–private partnerships, extension reforms, and governance. Data from the AP Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) reports, the Outcome Budget 2023–24, ATMA guidelines 2025 and other sources are analysed using trend analysis, institutional mapping, comparative performance indicators and descriptive statistics. Results show that extension reforms have decentralised responsibilities through ATMA at district and block levels, but human resource gaps persist: only a fraction of sanctioned Block Technology Managers (BTMs) and Assistant Technology Managers (ATMs) are in position, and extension staff per farmer remains inadequate. Budget allocations to extension programmes are modest relative to overall agricultural spending, with the “Extension” scheme receiving ₹3.29 billion in 2023–24. District level activities such as training, demonstrations and exposure visits reach thousands of farmers, yet coverage remains uneven. Comparative performance indicators reveal medium levels of coordination among agencies (ATMA coordination index 0.6) and mixed perceptions of performance effectiveness.