Certified Field Advisor Series

A Joint Initiative of CISANET and Moja Market LLC

The Certified Field Advisor Series is a groundbreaking learning program designed to elevate the quality, reach, and impact of agricultural advisory services across Malawi. Jointly developed by CISANET—Malawi’s largest civil society platform for agricultural policy advocacy—and Moja Market LLC, a leader in digital agripreneurship and extension innovation, this series represents a bold step toward a more professionalized and farmer-responsive extension ecosystem.

At its core, the series equips Extension Service Officers, agripreneurs, and smallholder farmers with the tools, insights, and competencies they need to become confident advisors, adaptive problem-solvers, and catalysts for inclusive growth.

  • Each course in the series is aligned with national priorities and framed around measurable, real-world competencies:

    • Master the planning, monitoring, and evaluation tools used by Malawi’s extension officers.

    • Apply climate-smart agricultural practices in diverse agroecological zones.

    • Translate national policies into localized advisory services.

    • Support farmers in accessing government incentives and market opportunities.

    • Embed gender and youth inclusion into extension activities.

  • This series offers tailored value for each segment of the CISANET membership:

    • Extension Officers gain clarity in role definition, better field planning techniques, and greater alignment with evolving national policy.

    • Agripreneurs acquire technical and business skills to increase productivity and attract support services.

    • Smallholder Farmers receive more reliable, policy-backed, and inclusive advisory support at the community level.

    By linking policy to practice, the series strengthens local capacity while reinforcing CISANET’s mission to champion a pluralistic, people-centered agricultural system.

  • The Certified Field Advisor Series draws its strength from Malawi’s most strategic and up-to-date policy frameworks:

    • Malawi Agriculture Extension Field Notebook (2017)
      A practical toolkit for frontline extension officers, this notebook introduces seasonal planning guides, monthly activity trackers, and a pocket reference manual on agribusiness, food security, and homestead farming. It helps advisors document, adapt, and communicate more effectively with farmers.

    • National Agriculture Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) Policy (2025)
      The cornerstone of Malawi’s extension reform, this policy promotes pluralism, innovation, digital tools, and climate-smart delivery. It ensures that advisory services are inclusive, professionalized, and aligned with rural development goals.

    • Malawi 2063 (MW2063)
      The nation’s long-term development vision highlights agricultural productivity, commercialization, and industrialization as key drivers of inclusive wealth creation. This vision anchors the series in a broader mission of structural transformation.

    • Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Handbook
      Provides a full suite of site-specific, evidence-based CSA practices tailored to Malawi’s climate risks. It ensures learners can guide farmers in building resilience through improved soil, water, crop, and livestock management.

    • Agriculture Land Resources Management Policy (2024–2029)
      Offers a policy blueprint for reversing land degradation, improving soil fertility, and promoting sustainable land use. It supports landscape-level interventions and community engagement in conservation farming.

    • National Irrigation Policy (2024)
      Focuses on expanding irrigation access and governance to shift from subsistence to commercial farming. It helps advisors understand how to link smallholders to water-smart farming solutions.

    • National Agriculture Policy (2024)
      Sets Malawi’s agricultural agenda across productivity, land use, mechanization, and agribusiness development. It underscores the role of youth, women, and private actors in transforming the sector.

    • Agriculture Sector Incentives Handbook (2024)
      Maps out tax incentives, access to finance, and investment opportunities in agribusiness. It enables learners to help farmers navigate and benefit from available government support programs.


    Together, these policy documents form the intellectual and practical foundation of a program designed not just to train, but to empower a new generation of agricultural advisors who are capable of transforming Malawi’s food systems from the ground up.

  • Set 1: Foundations of Agricultural Extension in Malawi

    - Agriculture Extension Field Notebook

    - National Extension & Advisory Services Policy (2025)

    - Malawi Vision 2063

    Set 2: Climate-Smart and Resilient Farming

    - Malawi Climate‑Smart Agriculture Handbook

    - Land Resources Management Policy (2024–2029)

    - National Irrigation Policy (2024)

    Set 3: Advisory Excellence—Policy, Production & Market Access

    - Guide to Agriculture Production in Malawi

    - National Agriculture Policy (2024)

    - Agricultural Incentives Guide (2024)