The Agricultural Extension Division, one of the eight divisions of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, has established a nation-wide network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The KVKs are hosted by ICAR institutes, SAUs, State Government Departments and NGOs with 100 per cent financial support of Government of India. The Agricultural Extension Division headed by the Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) monitors and reviews the progress of KVKs through 11 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARI) located in the country. The ATARI, Zone-XI is one among them.

The ICAR established eight Zonal Coordinating Units (ZCUs) in 1979 to monitor and coordinate the Lab to Land Programme (LLP) launched on the occasion of ICAR’s Golden Jubilee (1979). To begin with, Zonal Coordinating Unit-Zone VIII functioned from its office at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore and was shifted to the campus of the Regional Station of National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Bangalore in September, 1981. The jurisdiction included Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. The unit was converted as a Plan Scheme with additional staff in 1986 and additional objective of monitoring the other Transfer of Technology projects of ICAR viz., KVK, Trainers Training Centre (TTC), National Demonstration Scheme (NDS), Operational Research Project (ORP), Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Project and Special Project on Oilseeds. During 1990-91, another objective of implementing and monitoring of National Pulse Project was added, besides addition of Goa to the jurisdiction of the zone. The ZCU was upgraded as Zonal Project Directorate (ZPD) in March 2009 and as Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARI) since July 2015. As per the Reorganization of Zones, ATARI Bengaluru became Zone XI w.e.f. April 2017 covering Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep. Details are given below:

• Coordination and monitoring of technology application and frontline extension education programs.


• Strengthening agricultural extension research and knowledge management.

Total sanctioned staff strength of ICAR-ATARI-Zone XI, Bengaluru is 18 which includes Director (RMP position), 6 Scientists, 2 Technical, 8 Administrative, 1 Skilled Supporting Staff.