| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
One of the emerging and evolving phenomena in agricultural extension is the pluralistic and multi-actor extension system. While this system offers advantages such as optimizing limited resources, reducing unhealthy competition, increasing the coverage of extension services, and eliminating redundant services, evidence suggests that its implementation in Iran faces numerous challenges. Given the significance of this issue, this study was conducted to identify the obstacles to establishing a pluralistic agricultural extension system in Iran. The participants included experts and key informants from various sectors, such as university faculty members, faculty members of the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, provincial agricultural extension coordination managers, and actors from the private and non-governmental sectors. Using a purposive snowball sampling method, 15 participants were selected. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and analysis was conducted using Strauss and Corbin's coding method. The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles to implementing a pluralistic extension system in Iran could be categorized into 12 groups: challenges related to extension methods and approaches, infrastructural and logistical barriers, financial constraints, issues within the research and university sectors, structural obstacles in extension, managerial challenges, audience-related barriers, content-related issues (knowledge management), cognitive obstacles, legal and policy constraints, educational and skill-related deficiencies, and institutional (actor-related) barriers. Overall, for a pluralistic extension system to be successfully implemented, it is crucial first to reform the extension structure and address stakeholders' cognitive barriers regarding pluralism. Subsequently, by overcoming managerial, financial, legal-policy, educational, and other barriers, the foundation for a pluralistic approach in extension can be established. The findings of this study can help address the shortcomings and gaps in the current state-led extension system and contribute to the more effective design and implementation of a pluralistic extension system. |