Abstract
The drive to hasten the development of smallholder livestock farming through research-extension-farmer-input linkage systems (REFILS) is being promoted in African countries. Resource-constrained smallholders face various challenges including poor access to timely and relevant research-based innovations. Weak research-extension-farmer-input linkages exacerbate this issue. This review explores the evolution of Knowledge Transfer and Agricultural Extension Theories, emphasising the shift from centralised top-down dissemination to participatory and user-driven models. The paper characterises “research”, “extension”, “farmer”, and “input” as the main pillars of agricultural knowledge systems and how their lack of interconnectedness impacts their effectiveness. Examining the dynamics of these pillars provides a comprehensive rationale for strengthening REFILS. Also, REFILS adoption disparities such as limited funding and investment, institutional and organisational inefficiencies, and social and cultural factors were discussed. The identified key challenges form an intricate web of interconnected issues which should not be addressed in isolation but collectively. The proposed measures for REFILS enhancement include building strong public-private partnerships, full participation and collaboration by all key actors including farmers, digitalisation of smallholder agriculture, and policy and institutional reorganisation towards a stronger REFILS. Moreover, the study acts as a foundational guide for strengthening REFILS at national, regional, and continental levels to foster economic, environmental, and social sustainability in Africa’s livestock industry.