SYSTEM AND APPROACHES FOR IMPLEMENTING AGRICULTURE EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES
The Department employs one system and different approaches to for to plan and implement agriculture extension and advisory services as follows:
District Agriculture Extension Services System (DAESS) provides for and ensures systematic engagement of clients, farmers and services provides; beginning with farmer articulation of needs and wants on one hand; and services provider coordination and action on farmers’ and needs on the other hand, and feedback from farmers and services providers.
Model Village Approach improve the quality of life among smallholder farmers of all gender categories through the implementation of recommended agriculture technologies and other development programmes in an integrated manner.
Innovation Platforms promote the engagement between farmers and extension service providers to improve adoption of agriculture technologies and practices for increased production of crops and livestock while managing the environment. Examples are clusters and catchment-based crop production based along roads and paths in some places in Malawi.
Farmer Field Schools enhance the adoption of technologies and practices through training and self-discovery.
Farm Business Schools promote market-oriented production among smallholder farmers.
Lead Farmer approach promote engagement among farmers and encourage learning from fellow farmers for improved adoption of appropriate technologies and practices by farmers of all gender categories.
Agriculture Resource Centers provide packaged information on recommended practices and technologies to all farmers from one focal point.
Multimedia Campaigns facilitate timely dissemination of agriculture related information through interpersonal, print and electronic media.
Value Chain Approach identify and link all players involved in activities of a commodity from conception throughout the production to consumption, to improve efficiency and competitiveness of all players in a given value chain.
Integrated Homestead Farming Approach promote production and consumption of micronutrient rich crops and small livestock to improve nutrition status of households.
Household Approach promote power relations among adult and youth household members in order to promote equitable access to and control over resources, assets and benefits.
Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Promotion (SHEP) Approach facilitates linkages of famers to profitable and reliable markets in order to improve incomes of members of farmers groups changing the mindset from “Grow and sell” to “Grow to sell”
Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) Approach facilitates farmers to make informed decisions based on accurate, location-specific, climate and weather information; locally relevant crop, livestock and livelihood options; and with the use of participatory tools to aid their decision making.
