This book has been written containing all aspects of modern Extension System and Participatory Extension Approaches, with overall aim to present and disseminate the concepts and methodologies of agricultural extension and its relevance to rural development.

The book attempts to explain basic theories and important relationships in the multitude of extension activities in simple language, making it easier to read by avoiding purely technical discussions.

The publication highlights the important role of agricultural and rural extension in the backdrop of Sustainable Development Goals and provide all information regarding Participatory Extension Management which will be useful for the students, practitioners, NGOs, Policy Makers and Extension Mangers.

Sri Bidyadhar Maharana (1944), a Post Graduate in Agronomy from Odisha University of Agriculture& Technology (OUAT), has about 55 years of government service in Agriculture Department of Odisha and Consultancy experience. As a Certified trainer by Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India trained many high-level and middle-level officers on NRM, Watershed management, Project Planning, Micro-planning, Participatory Rural Appraisal, Extension Management and different subject matters for about 20 years in IMAGE and ICAR Institutes. He was a key district level resource person during implementation of T& V System of Extension in Odisha from the year 1977. When NATP was pilot tested in seven states of India in 1998, he took the lead for preparation of Strategic Research & Extension Plan (SREP) in four districts of Odisha with the support of a multi-disciplinary team. He was a National Professional in a GOI-UNDP assisted Sub-programme “Strengthening NRM and Sustainable Livelihoods of Women” in Tribal Odisha for five years. As a freelancer Consultant he has worked in various organisations like Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, CARE, India, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) , DFID supported projects for about 15 years. He was a National Level Monitor (NLM) for Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India for monitoring all Rural Development Schemes in Jharkhand, WB and Nagaland for three years. He has provided consultancy to reputed NGOs like Agragamee, XIM-CENDERET, CYSD, PRAGATI, NIRMAN, IGGSS, OPSL, RICOR, LAVS etc. for many years till now. He has conducted several studies for APICOL, OPSL, RICOR, IWMI, CARE, India, SAMBODHI, OTELP, WORLP, NABARD etc. He has developed user manuals on Land and Water Management for OWDM, OTELP, Decentralised GP planning for UNICEF, Women and Child Friendly GP Plan for SIRD, RKVY manual for Government of Odisha and prepared many projects for government. He has written many technical book-lets for UNDP and Nutritional Garden manual for IGGSS. He was associated with IWMI, Srilanka for preparing a Climate Smart Village Plan for Odisha. He has participated in Doordarsan and AIR as a resource person for about 20 years. He has authored two Books on “Sustainable Agriculture: Theory & Practice” in association with Professor (Dr) S.K.Sahu and “Climate Smart Agriculture & Food Security” in association with Professor (Dr) B.C.Nayak.

Dr.Chakradhar Satapathy (1942) graduated from the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology in the year 1966 and completed M.Sc. (Ag) in Extension Education being a gold medalist in 1969.He obtained Ph.D. Degree from Indian Agriculture Research Institute in the year 1981 with highest grade point. After serving for 32 years in Extension Education Stream in OUAT   he retired as Professor and Dean of Extension Education in 2002. Thereafter he served as Vice Chancellor Kalinga University at Chhattisgarh, Raipur for a short period of one year. Currently he is working as Director Amity Humanity Foundation at Bhubaneswar under the umbrella of Amity University Noida since 2004. He has guided 30 Ph.D, Scholars besides many M.Sc. Students. In addition to more than 200 research papers published in different journals leading journals of Research he has published 22 books both of professional and multidimensional in nature He is also President of Odisha Society of Extension Education. He has shared experience as well-known Extension Professional for benefit of Extension Fraternity, Scientists, Researchers and Policy makers.

Chapter 1. Basics of Extension Education 
Chapter 2. Historical Evolution of Agricultural Extension in India
Chapter 3. Extension and Communication 
Chapter 4. Extension Methods
Chapter 5. Adoption and Diffusion of Innovations
Chapter 6. Reforms in Agriculture Extension in India
Chapter 7. Participatory Extension Management
Chapter 8. Extension Programme Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation
Chapter 9. Role of Extension in Community Development & Rural Development Programmes in India
Chapter 10. Participatory Rural Appraisal and PLA
Chapter 11. Decentralized Planning and Micro-Level Planning
Chapter 12. Gender Mainstreaming for Rural Development