The University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad was established on 1st Oct 1986 to cater to the needs of farming community in North Karnataka with the jurisdiction of 7 Districts Vijaypur, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Haveri, Gadag, Uttar Kannada, Dharwad which covers about 32% of the geographical area in the state. One of the tri-fold functions of the university is Extension, Transfer of technologies developed in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The mission of the extension activities is the dissemination of research findings to the farming community. The Directorate of Extension is the nodal agency to provide direction and leadership in the extension education activities of the University. The extension activities are carried out through a network of well established and well equipped Transfer of Technology (ToT) centers which at present include Staff Training Unit, Krishi Community Radio Station (KCRS), six Krishi Vignana Kendras (KVK’s), five Agriculture Extension Education Centers.)

These centers are periodically and regularly organizing national and state level trainings for the benefit of officers of the development departments, Non-Government Organizations, extension functionaries and the farming community engaged in agriculture and allied activities. These centres are also organizing different types of Extension activities like demonstrations, farm trials, krishimelas, field days, exhibitions etc on various aspects of agriculture and allied activities to create awareness among extension functionaries and farmers. The directorate is involved in dissemination of farm technology through technical bulletins, booklets, leaflets, folders, posters and through radio and TV channels. The directorate is also serving as an important source of feedback information to the researchers through diagnostic services.

The first Community Radio Station in India was established in UAS Dharwad campus on May 17, 2007. The Community Radio Station is named as Krishi Community Radio Station (KCRS) the catch line of this channel is “Raitarinda- Raitarige” (from farmers to the farmers). The fresh programmes are aired in the morning at 6 AM to 9 AM and repeated in the same day evening between 6 PM to 9 PM. The programmes of Community Radio Station have helped in providing location specific crop production information to the farmers based on day to day Agronomic predictions such as weather report, market analysis, out -break of pests and diseases etc.