This paper examines Mozambique’s current move towards the development of a pluralistic national system of rural extension. The Government’s present agricultural policy framework has resulted in the development of a National Extension Master Plan that calls for the advancement of an Integrated National Extension System (SISNE). SISNE envisages an institutionally diversified system of extension, utilising both public sector and private sector extension providers to disseminate agricultural information to farmers. This diversified system is to be promoted in part through an outsourcing initiative in two districts of two different provinces, Nampula and Zambezia. Aside from setting the stage for discussion, this paper has two purposes. The first is to examine the problems and challenges that confront Mozambique’s public sector extension service in developing a pluralistic extension system. The second purpose is to consider the consequent role of the public sector and its responsibilities as both a provider of public sector extension services and as a coordinator, overseer and regulator of private sector provision. The paper concludes with a consideration of the meaning of Mozambique’s move towards a pluralistic national rural extension system both for its own purposes and the development of similar purposes in other developing countries.