Extension organizations are a lifeline for rural and farming communities, especially in times of crisis. Whether responding to a natural disaster or navigating a global health emergency like COVID-19, these organizations have proven essential. This article reflects on how extension systems have adapted and responded during such crises, the obstacles they've encountered, and what they've learned along the way. It also emphasizes the value of proactive planning, community trust, and flexible service delivery.

Over the last few years mobile phones have transitioned from mere communication devices to potent drivers of education and empowerment in rural India. In agricultural extension services mobile phones play an important role in providing real-time access to critical information like weather conditions, pest management methods, market prices, and expert guidance. With India having more than 1.2 billion mobile connections and the rural areas accounting for more than half of it, mobile based learning solutions have become more feasible backed by initiatives like Digital India and BharatNet. Mobile technologies reduce the geographical and budgetary constraints of conventional extension services by delivering location-based content in local languages through SMS, voice calls, applications, etc. Platforms like Kisan Suvidha and eNAM offer farmers with real-time information and enhanced market access while platforms like IFFCO Kisan and UMANG facilitate expert guidance, financial literacy, and access to government schemes. Mitigating the drawbacks such as digital illiteracy, gender disparity, connectivity, and the absence of localized content through targeted policy measures, investments in digital infrastructure, and inclusive education mechanisms is the need of the hour.

Agriculture continues to be the backbone of Indian economy and principal source of livelihood of rural families largely by small and marginal farmers and ensuring the food and nutritional security. These farmers are confronted with a number of issues of credit, input supply, proper linkage with market and so on. Women farmers are behind in adopting the drudgery reduction technologies followed by health and nutrition of farm families. Their livelihood can be improved by using different strategies of information and communication technologies (ICTs), capacity building, fight against climate change and enhancing food production. Budgetary requirements also needs to be taken care of. Market-oriented research and investment also must be enhanced to protect our farmers from glut situation and earning more income by utilising the concept of FPOs/FPCs in broader perspective.(Kumar et al., 2020).