The IFDC-Soil Advisories Project in Malawi is harnessing “AgroTutor” – CIMMYT’s flagship digital advisory platform to deliver site-specific, actionable soil health and sustainable intensification (SI) advisories to smallholder farmers. Built on a foundation of existing scientific literature, expert consensus and past project evidence, the initiative shortlisted a suite of 22 proven SI technologies aligned with the agroecological realities of Malawi. These technologies, ranging from land preparation and agroforestry to combined fertilizer-manure strategies for soil fertility management, were assessed for their suitability across three major agro-climate zones (Lakeshore, Mid-Altitude, and High-Altitude) and two soil textures (sandy and clayey). The resulting content was organized into modular training & extension materials accompanied by lesson plans aligned with a dialogical training approach: ensuring flexibility and relevance across diverse farming contexts.
AgroTutor now serves as the digital platform for scaling these insights. This progressive application integrates a decision-support framework that scores SI technologies based on agro-environmental suitability. It then ranks recommended options of best-fit SI technologies tailored to site-specific conditions such as soil type. The app functions both online and offline, allowing extension agents to share recommendations even in low-connectivity areas. In late-2024, AgroTutor App was piloted in Malawi through a collaboration between CIMMYT and Malawi Agricultural Extension Department. Extension agents received training through classroom sessions and field demonstrations, subsequently using AgroTutor to deliver over 320 tailored advisories to farmers across seven communities in Malawi. The platform enables two-way feedback, allowing extension agents and farmers to co-create knowledge, while also tracking adoption challenges and emerging needs.
What sets AgroTutor apart is its ability to bridge formal scientific knowledge with local realities, delivering location-specific, farmer-friendly, and scalable guidance. Planned enhancements such as Chichewa translations, voice prompts, and self-paced training modules via CIMMYT Co-Lab – position the platform to become a key pillar in Malawi’s demand-driven extension system. In partnership with trained extension agents and informed farmers, the platform is helping to lay the groundwork for improved soil fertility, increased productivity, and a more climate-resilient agriculture.
