1 Towards A Cross-Sector Pluralistic Agricultural Extension System in A Decentralized Policy Context: A Ghanaian Case Study Ernest L. Okorley, David Gray and Janet Reid ABSTRACT The dwindling government funding of agricultural extension in developing countries and the call on extension organizations to support farm households’ livelihood security initiatives, has made the practice of pluralistic extension a realistic option for ensuring efficient and effective use of available resources for extension and sustainable development. The aim of the study was to understand the key factors that can contribute to successful pluralistic agricultural extension system in a decentralized policy environment in developing countries for sustainable agricultural development. The research used a qualitative case study based on a successful district level public agricultural extension organization in Ghana. Semi-structure interviews, supported with documents and observations, were used for the data collection. The case study shows that an important factor that can contribute to the success of a local level extension organization is its ability to coordinate its activities, and collaborate with other stakeholder organizations through the provision of forums, where organizations from different sectors can interact. Also, by establishing mutually beneficial working relationships and trust with stakeholder organizations where training of staff and other resources including working materials, funds, vehicles, and library resources can be exchanged or shared. These relationships can increase extension organization’s capability to assist farm households in meeting their broader livelihood security needs in a more sustainable manner. Key words: Pluralistic Extension, Decentralization, Agriculture, Cross-sector, Collaboration, Coordination INTRODUCTION The agricultural extension system is one of the major vehicles for diffusing agriculture-related technologies and therefore has an important role to play in ensuring sustainable agricultural development and farm household livelihood security. Recent shift towards adoption, by decentralized extension organizations, of a sustainable livelihood approach requires the organizations to address a much wider range of farmer needs than they have in the past (Sutherland, Irungu, Kang'ara, Muthamia & Ouma, 1999; Ingram, Roncoli & Kirshen, 2002; Rivera & Qamar, 2003; Molua, 2005). To achieve this, extension organizations would have to foster a pluralistic extension system (Hanyani-Mlambo, 2002; Rivera & Qamar, 2003; Rivera & Alex, 2004). According to the authors, pluralistic extension system is one in which there is more than one extension service provider involved in the provision of extension services in a community. Smith (1997) and Rivera and Alex (2004) argued that public extension organizations can not do everything for farmers, and that there are areas of agricultural extension services (e.g. agricultural machinery, chemicals, hybrid seeds and livestock, veterinary supplies and pharmaceuticals) which are best suited to private sector provision. This point was also made by Rivera and Qamar (2003). Not surprisingly, other authors (World Bank, 2000; Minoiu, 2003; Richardson, 2003; Swanson & Samy, 2004; Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (Volume 12, No.4, 2010) ISSN: 1520-5509 Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania