BREAKING BARRIERS TO UNLOCK ONE HEALTH IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

The One Health approach, which emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, holds immense promise for sustainable transformation of rural areas. Agricultural extension services, as frontline conduits between science and rural communities, are uniquely positioned to operationalize One Health principles but face significant barriers such as institutional fragmentation, limited resources, capacity gaps, and social constraints. This review examines these challenges in depth, drawing on recent empirical studies and global case examples. It further proposes evidence-based strategies such as policy integration, interdisciplinary capacity building, digital innovations, and participatory community engagement approaches, and a framework that can unlock One Health’s transformative potential in agricultural extension. This integration is vital for addressing complex rural challenges, from zoonotic diseases to environmental degradation, in the end contributing to resilient and sustainable rural livelihoods.