Agriculture stands at a critical crossroads, tasked with the immense challenge of feeding a growing global population amidst escalating threats of climate change, environmental degradation, and economic disparities, while also embracing the opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain within the agricultural ecosystem. The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 2—to end hunger and achieve food security through sustainable agriculture—demands more than technological advancement alone; it requires robust, adaptive, and inclusive systems that effectively bridge the gap between innovation and the farmer. Agricultural extension has thus evolved from a traditional model of top-down advice into a dynamic, multidimensional engine for transformation. It is the vital link that integrates cutting-edge science with local wisdom, digital tools with human-centric approaches, and global goals with on-the-ground realities.

This edited volumes (I & II), Agricultural Extension for Sustainable Growth: Bridging Innovation, Technology, and Food Security, is conceived at this pivotal moment. It seeks to capture the breadth and depth of this evolution, offering a comprehensive exploration of how modern extension services are rising to meet contemporary challenges. The book is structured around four interconnected thematic pillars, each representing a critical frontier for progress. These sections deals into the digital revolution reshaping knowledge delivery, the central role of human capital and inclusive development, the imperative to integrate nutrition and food security into agricultural advice, and the strategies for building climate resilience and sustainable agribusiness models. Together, the contributions provide a holistic vision for an extension system that is not merely informative but truly transformative—a catalyst for a more secure, equitable, and sustainable future for global agriculture.

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PART - I: Food Security, Nutrition, and Agricultural Extension

1. Nutrition Smart Agricultural Extension Systems: A Critical Review of Concepts and Innovations
   Atheena U P and Smitha S
2. Crafting Extension Strategies for Insects as Potential Alternative Nutrition Source in India
   Anshu Kumari and Sudhanand Prasad Lal
3. Agricultural Extension Strategies and Approaches for Food and Nutritional Security
   N K Sharma; Ashish Ranjan; Anupam Kumari; Abhinav Kumar; Shubh Laxmi; Asheesh Chaurasiya and D K Mahto
4. Mushroom: An Excellent Source of Food and Farmer Income
   Omprakash Bharti and Sarvesh Kumar
5. Community Based Approach to Enhance Food Security
   Nagma Kausar Siddiqui and Archana Shukla
6. Strengthening Food Security through Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: The Role of Extension in India
   Urmila Krishna, Lakhwinder Kaur, K T Surya, Vangala Bhavani and Mebom Timba
7. Food Security and Nutrition: Integrating Nutrition Education into Agricultural Programs
   Yogesh Kumar, Smita Singh, N R Meena and R K Doharey
8. Food Security and Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Extension
   Anjali Kumari and Nagarjun P.
9. Role of Good Agriculture Practices (GAPs) in Rural Development
   Sarvesh Kumar
10. Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains in India: Enhancing Efficiency, Market Linkages and Farmer Empowerment
    Vangala Bhavani, Bogaram Savitha, Mebom Timba, Urmila Krishna and Surya K T

PART - II: Sustainability, Climate Change and Future Directions in Extension

1. Fostering Sustainable Agribusiness: The Transformative Power of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in India
   Shaktiranjan Das and Darshan N P
2. Role of Traditional Media in Information Dissemination
   Sunnyrudh Singh and Anil Kumar Sharma
3. Exploring the Opportunities of Market Access and Value Chains of Millets in India with Specific Emphasis on Bihar
   Kumari Sushmita, Sudhanand Prasad Lal and Manju Devi
4. Impact of Climate Change on Rural Agriculture
   Debasree Saha and Biman De
5. Climate Change and Indian Agriculture: Challenges, Impacts and Pathways to Resilience
   Shalani Kumari, Ruchi Priya and Chandan Kumar Panda
6. Agricultural Extension Services: Models and Effectiveness
   Ruchi Priya, Baldau Patel, Shalani Kumari and Chandan Kumar Panda
7. Innovative Extension Systems and Approaches in India: Need and Future Prospects
   Sarvesh Kumar

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