1. Agriculture Extension Field Notebook

The Malawi Agriculture Extension Field Notebook (2017) is a practical and interactive tool developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development with support from USAID and partners. It is designed for frontline agriculture extension workers in Malawi, equipping them to effectively plan, track, and evaluate their work with smallholder farmers and stakeholders. The notebook enhances coordination, learning, and resilience in farming communities by integrating planning templates, seasonal activity guides, supervisor feedback sections, and technical reference materials.

The notebook encourages data-driven decision-making, adaptive planning, and seasonal reflection across all aspects of agricultural work, from land conservation to nutrition and market access. It also provides a Pocket Guide with essential technical knowledge on agribusiness, integrated homestead farming, food diversity, DAESS structure, and gender/HIV mainstreaming, thus empowering extension workers with both field-based tools and institutional frameworks.

• Roadmap of Contents

  Section 1: Introduction and Purpose

  • Role of extension officers

  • Importance of planning, tracking progress, supervisor feedback

  • How to use the notebook effectively

  Section 2: Annual and Monthly Planning Tools

  • Annual Planning Template

  • Monthly Ulendo Programme planner

  • Monthly Activity Trackers (July–June)

  • Monthly Review Questions

  • Supervisor Notes section

  • Quarterly and Annual Reviews

  Section 3: Seasonal Activity Guides

  Each season includes actionable items across thematic areas:

  July–September (Dry Season)

  • October–December (Bloom Season)

  • January–March (Rainy Season)

  • April–June (Harvest Season)

  Each period includes:

  • Land conservation practices

  • Crop and livestock management

  • Fish farming activities

  • Marketing strategies

  • Nutrition, food preservation, and household planning

  Section 4: Pocket Guide of Reference Materials

  Organized into 8 thematic areas:

  1. About the Agriculture Sector & DAESS

     • Extension service delivery structures

     • DAESS platforms and coordination

  2. Nutrition

     • Seasonal Food Availability Calendars

     • Integrated Homestead Farming (IHF)

     • Food group diversity

  3. Gender & HIV Mainstreaming

     • Steps and tools for integration

     • 4 “I”s and 4 “P”s framework

  4. Agribusiness Management

     • Gross margin analysis

     • Break-even budgeting

     • Cash flow planning

  5. Soil & Water Management (see full document)

  6. Plants & Trees (see full document)

  7. Animals (Livestock & Fish) (see full document)

  8. Reference Data

     • Lists of foods, inputs, resources

     • Contact sections for stakeholder engagement

  Annex: Personal & Project Information

  • User’s contact details

  • Duty station and roles

  • List and details of projects under implementation

The following multiple choice, short answer, and scenario-based questions are required for certification and must be completed in full.