Extension Strategies for Sustainable Sericulture Development: A Comprehensive Review of Approaches, Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

Sericulture plays a vital role in supporting rural livelihoods by generating employment and income opportunities,
particularly for smallholder farmers and women (Bharathi, 2016; Bukhari et al., 2019). As the only country producing
all four commercially important silk varieties—Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga—India occupies a unique position in the
global silk sector and contributes significantly to both economic development and biodiversity conservation (Taufique
& Hoque, 2021; Sharma et al., 2025). However, the sustainability of the sector is increasingly challenged by issues such
as climate change, disease incidence, market fluctuations, and the limited reach of extension services (Ssemugenze et
al., 2021; Sharma et al., 2025).
Agricultural extension has emerged as a key driver in addressing these challenges by facilitating the dissemination of
innovations, strengthening farmers’ knowledge and skills and improving access to markets and support services (Rajesh
& Muchie, 2022). This review synthesizes existing literature on extension strategies used in sericulture and evaluates
their contribution to sustainable development. Particular attention is given to approaches such as technology transfer,
participatory extension, farmer field schools, community-based organizations, market-led extension, climate-smart
advisory services and gender- and youth-focused interventions (Chambers, 1994; Kaushik et al., 2025). The review
is guided by important theoretical perspectives, including Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Human Capital Theory,
the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, and the Agricultural Innovation Systems approach, which help explain the
processes of technology adoption and stakeholder collaboration in sericulture development (Rogers, 2003; Becker,
1964; Scoones, 1998; Rajesh & Muchie, 2022).
The paper further highlights the growing role of digital technologies, including mobile-based advisory services, social
media platforms, artificial intelligence, precision sericulture and e-extension systems, in enhancing the effectiveness of
extension delivery (Kaushik et al., 2025). In addition, it identifies major institutional, technical, socio-economic, market,
climatic and digital constraints, while outlining key research gaps related to climate resilience, gender inclusion, market
integration and digital extension. Based on these insights, a SMART-Sericulture Extension Framework is proposed to
support sustainable practices, market orientation, digital transformation, climate adaptation and capacity building.
The review concludes that the future of sericulture depends on integrated, participatory, climate-resilient, and digitally
enabled extension systems that can enhance farmer livelihoods while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the
sector (Kaushik et al., 2025; Rajesh & Muchie, 2022).