Agricultural extension services being provided predominantly by public agencies in the developing world have contributed to quantum jumps in food production in countries like India. However, these services have failed to eliminate persistent structural poverty among a significant proportion of the farmer households. Part I of the paper summarizes generic problems that have so far persisted in the provision of agricultural extension services in various developing countries (including India) as given in the published literature. It then brings out various elements of the reform processes that are being recommended and implemented in developing country programmes by various donor agencies, like the World bank, FAO, GTZ, etc.

Part II of the paper carries out in brief SWOT analyses of the Indian silk industry. It also highlights the organization and functions of the various infrastructure of the central and state government agencies providing extension services for the sericulture industry. It then critically examines as to how this infrastructure and services are geared to mitigate the weaknesses and threats and exploit the strengths and the opportunities of the sector. Based on this the framework of extension services reforms outlined in Part I of the paper is applied to formulate recommendations on the reorganization of this infrastructure for its better cost-efficiency and effectiveness.