AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICE DELIVERY IN MALAWI: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND A REVIEW OF ASSESSMENTS

The design, organization, and provision of agricultural extension and advisory services in Malawi is guided by the 2000 national agriculture extension policy, “Agriculture Extension in the New Millennium: Towards Pluralistic and Demand-Driven Services in Malawi”. An implementation guide for the policy, “Agricultural Extension Implementation Guide” was published in 2004. Historically, the colonial government of Malawi (Nyasaland) established a national agricultural extension and training system in 1950 as part of government’s response to the severe drought and famine of 1948/49. The Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs) and Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) were established in this era.