Abstract

The rise of farmer organizations in Malawi has enhanced the rural livelihood economy and has changed the way in which the majority of the rural agrarian community view their farming enterprise.  Farmer organization development in Malawi has, however, been retarded and has failed to meet the needs of its most disadvantaged members. This failure has been attributed to the rise of elitism and elite capture within the farmer organization movement in the country. However, other evidence exists which demonstrate that the participation of rural elites in farmer organizations in Malawi has created far greater benefits than disadvantages. It is however, the prevailing negative self perceptions that member’s harbour about their own skills and capacities that creates an environment within the farmer organizations in which only the elite are able to excel. These negative self perceptions are the result of the historical nature of the way in which the Agricultural Extension Service System in Malawi has evolved since the end of the colonial era. Policy recommendations are that there is deliberate need for development agents, practitioners and promoters to create an enabling environment, in which both rural elites and non-elites are able to thrive, participate and benefit fully within rural farmer organizations by changing the prevailing negative self perceptions. 

Key words: Farmer organization movement, Malawi, rural elites, agricultural extension, narrative analysis.