The Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) was established on June 12, 1964 at Hyderabad. 

The University was  formally inaugurated on  March  20, 1965 by Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Hon'ble      Prime   Minister   of     India. Another significant    milestone   was     the   inauguration of  the building  programme of   the  University  by Late Smt Indira Gandhi,   the then Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  of   India  on   June 23, 1966.

The University was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on November 7th 1996 in honour and memory of an outstanding Parliamentarian Acharya N.G. Ranga, who rendered remarkable selfless service for the cause of farmers and is regarded as an outstanding educationist, kisan leader and freedom fighter.