Generational dynamics of agricultural intensification in Malawi: challenges for the youth and elderly smallholder farmers

Abstract

In the next 24 years, the Malawian population is expected to double, a development that will inevitably affect access to land and land holding sizes. As access to land is already limited, securing food for the growing population will require policy shifts including the promotion of agricultural intensification. Malawi's economy depends on the agricultural sector, and this paper addresses the generational perspective of agricultural intensification, with specific focus on youth and elderly in smallholder production systems. Despite wide recognition that an overwhelmingly large share of the Malawian population is young, our research finds that the younger generation have less access to land than the older generations. The elderly are limited in farming due to the physical labour required for agriculture, yet they withhold their pieces of land. Our research shows that maize yields have remained low between 2008 and 2017, and that the elderly have had the lowest yields. The potential for sustainable agricultural intensification therefore remains low until access to land and financial support for the youth receive special attention in all relevant circles including policy discourses. The paper situates the findings from this study within the broader scholarship on generational changes and perceptions in relation to access to resources for production.

Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Scoping Review

“…For youth, these challenges include poor and/or limited infrastructure [1,14], and a lack of access to finance, production inputs and resources, markets, extension services, and training [15,16]. Additionally, youths are seen competing with older and more established farmers for resources [17]. The youth's socioeconomic environment mainly portrays farming as a "poor man's" occupation, characterised by long working hours with low economic returns and social status [18].…”

Gender differences in climate-smart adaptation practices amongst bean-producing farmers in Malawi: The case of Linthipe Extension Planning Area

“…The findings show that agriculture attracts a significant number of youths compared to men and women combined, asserting that it is the main source of livelihood for rural youths in the country. Many Malawians depend on agriculture because it plays an overwhelmingly important role in Malawi's economy, accounting for about 30% of the country's GDP (Ng'ong'ola, 2020; Lindsjö et al, 2021). The results further indicate that most household heads are men (96%), thus affirming cultural narratives where men are considered the rightful heads of their families (Bassey and Bubu, 2019).…”

Lessons on enabling African smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to benefit from sustainable agricultural intensification

“…from SAI, and the perceptions of women, youth and elderly regarding the restrictions and enablers of their participation in the transition towards agricultural intensification (Fischer et al, 2020;Lindjö et al, 2020;Zulu et al, 2020). Lindjö et al (2020) observed that young and productive farmers were often lacking access to land, whereas elderly farmers withholding this land were increasingly unable to use this resource productively. Here, the age-determined inequity in access to resources implies a clear break on agricultural intensification.…”