Strengthening agricultural extension services to enhance farmers’ capacity and resilience for sustainable development; a systematic review

Agricultural extension services tailored to local contexts in the Global South are increasingly recognized as critical enablers of farm decision-making, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. However, their contribution remains narrowly conceptualized as technology transfer rather than a multidimensional process of capacity development. Guided by the diffusion of innovation and sustainable livelihoods frameworks, this study systematically reviews recent evidence to examine how agricultural initiatives enhance farmers’ adaptive capacity and resilience. A PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review was conducted on literature published between 2019 and 2024. Five academic databases and supplementary gray literature sources were systematically searched using Boolean operators and database-specific syntax. Eligibility criteria included peer-reviewed and high-quality institutional documents focused on agricultural extension and capacity building in the Global South. Out of 321 documents identified, 27 duplicates were removed, leaving 294 documents for screening; 47 documents met the inclusion criteria following full-text assessment. Data were extracted using a standardized Microsoft Excel form and synthesized through descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis. Study quality was appraised using a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist, while review-level bias was assessed using the ROBIS framework. The review was not prospectively registered in PROSPERO due to its interdisciplinary scope. However, established reporting standards were followed to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Africa accounted for the largest share of documented initiatives(43%), followed by South Asia(30%) and Latin America (17%). Farmer field schools were the most widely reported approach for capacity development, while digital platforms frequently complemented these efforts by improving access to information and markets. Initiatives integrating participatory learning, indigenous knowledge, gender-responsive strategies, and institutional partnerships were associated with improved farmer resilience and innovation uptake. However, limited digital infrastructure (below 30% access in Africa), gender inequalities in South Asia and weak institutional continuity in Latin America continue to limit scalability and inclusivity. Agricultural extension is evolving toward hybrid, innovation-driven systems that integrate social learning with digital advisory tools. This review proposes an integrative capacity-building and innovation diffusion framework emphasizing multistakeholder collaboration, gender inclusion and context-specific adaptation. Strengthening such integrated approaches may enhance knowledge diffusion, improve resilience and support sustainable agricultural transformation. Not applicable.