Prof. K. Venkata Reddy (b. 1931) is a native of Pakala in Chittoor district (AP). His schooling was done in Board High School, Pakala. Responding the call from Mahatma Gandhi, he participated in Independence Movement and courted arrest twice in 1945 and 1946. He received a good number of prizes in Essay writing and Elocution competitions and for historic talents. He did his B.A. (Honours) and M.A. in Economics from Madras University. His Doctoral Thesis on Agricultural Productivity in Andhra Pradesh, from S.V. Arts College, Tirupati; Andhra University, Visakhapatnam S.V.  University, postgraduate center and Sri. Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur. He has authored 20 books and 100 papers published in Reputed Journals. He Delivered and presented papers in National and International seminars. Under his guidance, some 25 candidates obtained research degrees. He toured widely covering, among others, Singapore, Bangkok and Philippines. He served as Registrar and Vice chancellor of S.K. University. He served as a member of good number of Official Committees set up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Also, he served as a Member of Review Committees set up by the U.G.C. to review and assess the academic progress of different universities in the country. He received Best Teacher`s Award from Government of Andhra Pradesh, Duvvuri Rami Reddy Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from S.V. University. All through his career, his interest has been in Rural Economics and Rural Development. He pleads for constructive role off all educational institutions in rural reconstruction and betterment of the conditions of rural poor. In this book  "Agriculture and rural Development", an attempt is made to indicate the emerging trends in the development of rural India, highlighting development on the lines of Gandhian ideology.