problems with pests and unviable inoculum because they failed to reinoculate after late rains and delayed planting. As a result of the demonstrations and surveys of both men and women farmers involved in soybean production in a number of areas, the problem of how to get viable inoculum to the rural areas was identified as a general problem affecting both men and women. In addition, there were gender specific smallholder problems such as the lack of training and the-limited seed given to women. Trials were held the following year with 20 female cooperators selected by the male extension staff. In addition to trying to solve the technical problems, two other questions were asked. Could women do on-farm research with precision? Could the male extension staff work with women and what were the methods that worked best? The answers to both of the questions were affirmative. The women were able to learn the procedures for the trials with precision. Special techniques were used to instruct them and to test their knowldege of the techniques before they planted their trials. Second, the male extension staff had no difficulty in identifying and instructing the women as well as in monitoring the trials (Spring, 1986b).
To capitalize on the discovery that women could be part of trials, participate in extension services, and that the male staff could work with women (in terms of instruction, visits, monitoring crops, etc.), the WIADP prepared an extension circular. The circular was unique in that it was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture rather than by the WIADP. Extension circulars from the MOA are regarded as technical recommendations to be distributed to the entire extension stafi and to be heeded by them. Although the general policy for the delivery of extension services is "nondiscriminatory", the data showed that women were not being contacted as too few received credit and other services. There was need to legitimize the fact that male extensionists all over the country could work with women as well as with men farmers in their areas and that working with women farmers was not only the concern of the few female extensionists (who consisted of 150 out of 1950 extension workers). The circular was entitled "Reaching Female Farmers Through Male Extension Workers" and was published in August 1983 (MOA, 1983). An article in the national newpaper marked its distribution to all grass roots workers and to agricultural project management. The circular drew attention to the fact that extension services need to reach women because of women's involvement in Malawi's smallholder agricultural sector. It stated that some people might want to argue that women are interested in home economics rather than in agricultural training that has mostly been directed to men. It pointed out that where women have been offered agricultural programs, they have learned new technologies and increased their production. The circular used photographs taken from the MQA's own collection and depicted women in various farming operations, attending extension demonstrations led by male extensionists, attending village meetings with male farmers, receiving credit inputs along with men, and exhibiting a certificate of recognition for excellence in farming.
The circular presented methods for improving the delivery of extension services to women and for getting women into extension and research activities. Techniques were given on how to encourage women to attend village meetings and agricultural training courses, and how to increase women's participation in credit programs and farmers' clubs. The male extensionists were directed to include women at their demonstrations, trials, and field days. They were also told to keep records of contacts and program involvement in terms of the number of women and men participating. Detailed suggestions