Evaluating the merits of climate smart technologies under smallholder agriculture in Malawi

Abstract

The merits of three climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies implemented by farmers were assessed in Machinga district of Malawi with respect to their soil quality and maize yield effects. Data were collected from farms implementing the three CSA technologies, namely conservation agriculture (CA), maize-pigeonpea (Maize-PP) intercrops and a local organic and inorganic soil amendment known as Mbeya fertilization (Mbeya-fert), from 2018 to 2019. With respect to resilience and adaptation, particulate organic matter, soil organic carbon (SOC), N, P, K, Ca and Mg all significantly improved while bulk densities were lowered under the three CSA systems. Higher annual biomass inputs and improved water infiltration from the Maize-PP intercrops were observed. With respect to productivity, CA and Mbeya-fert improved maize yields by 51 and 19%, respectively, compared to conventional farmer practices. With regard to climate change mitigation, increases in measured SOC in the top 20 cm depth compared to the conventional farmer practices amounted to 6.5, 12 and 10.5 t C ha −1 for CA, Mbeya-fert, and Maize-PP intercrops, respectively, over a period of 2-6 years. This suggests higher potential for carbon sequestration from CSA technologies. Furthermore, use of drought tolerant varieties, timely weeding and optimum plant populations, increased productivity. Improved gross margins from CSA practices were also apparent. Thus, employing these CSA technologies could enable farmers to be more resilient, productive and adapt better to climate change shocks leading to improved food security and livelihoods.

Collective smart innovations and corporate governance models in Italian wine cooperatives: the opportunities of the farm-to-fork strategy

“…The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2010) defines CSA as 'agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, enhances resilience, reduces GHGs, and supports the achievement of national food security and development goals'. It aims to achieve food security and other development goals in a context of climate changing and increasing food demand (Lipper et al, 2014;Ngcobo and Chitakira, 2021;Nyagumbo et al, 2022;Totin et al, 2018).…”

Developing agriculture resilience in sub‐Saharan Africa

“…These are climate-smart agriculture approaches that could also mitigate agricultural influence on climate change (Nyagumbo et al, 2021;Zougmoré et al, 2018).…”

Upscaling tropical restoration to deliver environmental benefits and socially equitable outcomes

“…For instance, conservation agriculture using zero tillage, residue retention, and crop rotation increased yields (by 5.8%), water-use efficiency (12.6%), and profitability (25.9%) across four cropping systems in South Asia 54 (Figure 3D). In sub-Saharan Africa, average yield increases of six major crops under conservation agriculture are modest (3.7%; maize yields with residue retention and crop rotation are higher, 8.4%) 55 , although impacts on profitability are unknown 56 . Yield increases further varied with environmental conditions, from 3.9% at 800-1200 mm to 12.5% at less than 400 mm average annual rainfall 55 , underlining the context dependence of benefits and need to tailor approaches to local conditions.…”