The programme was inaugurated by Dr Anand, Chairman of the Karnataka Organic Mission.
Addressing students, Anand said distance education should become a tool to herald a new dawn in the lives of those who are deprived of education.
Teachers involved in imparting distance education should have a sense of learning while teaching. They should have an inclination to work with the farming community, he said.
UAS Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayan Gowda said every year 1,100 students enrol for different programmes. The number is insufficient to make the benefits of agricultural sciences reach the doorsteps of farmers. It takes nearly 10 years to make the benefits reach the doorsteps of farmers with the current number of students, he said.
Retired director of Agricultural Extension Centre Prof V Veerabhadraiah said two courses Total Agricultural System and Post Harvesting Procession were launched to develop agricultural resources in rural areas and to make agricultural sciences and technology reach the farmers and youth in rural areas.