Impact of treadle pump irrigation technology on smallholder poverty and food security in Malawi: a case study of Blantyre and Mchinji districts

Mangisoni, Julius

doi:10.3763/ijas.2008.0306

Cited by 55 publications

(51 citation statements)

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“…Irrigated agriculture is regarded as a means to boost incomes and food security and is considered a way to reduce poverty by government and donors (Mulwafu and Nkhoma 2002;Mulwafu et al 2003;Ferguson and Mulwafu 2004;Kambewa 2004;Nkhoma and Mulwafu 2004;Peters 2004;Mangisoni 2008;Chidanti-Malunga and Weatherhead 2009). There is a big potential for irrigation in Malawi, which can impact positively on food security, and every effort needs to be taken to harness this potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is reported that potential land for irrigation in Malawi is 400,000 ha, while only 62,000 ha is currently under irrigation of which only 14,000 ha is owned by smallholder farmers (FAO 1996;Malawi Government 2000;Maweru 2004). In Malawi, a number of modern and simple irrigation technologies are used in the dry season to promote crop production among small-scale farmers (Wiyo et al 2002;Fandika et al 2007; Kadyampakeni et al 2008;Mangisoni 2008;ChidantiMalunga and Weatherhead 2009;Fandika et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Agronomic and socio-economic analysis of water management techniques for dry season cultivation of common bean in Malawi

et al. 2012

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A study was carried out in Malawi to compare agronomic and socio-economic aspects of different water management practices for two advanced bean lines. Four irrigation technologies and one control were studied in Chingale Area Development Program in Zomba District in southern Malawi. The technologies encompassed motorized pumps (MP), treadle pumps (TP), water cans, gravityfed surface irrigation (GR) and a non-irrigated practice that used residual moisture. The study found that technologies that used \2 labour hours m -3 were appropriate for such small-scale irrigation systems. The aggregated bean production labour cost and labourday thresholds were $893 ha -1 and 2,978 LD ha -1 , respectively. An irrigation supply in the range of 7,000-10,000 m 3 ha -1 for the TP, MP and GR would be adequate. Assuming 20 irrigations season -1 , 400-600 m 3 irrigation -1 would be adequate, supplying 40-60 mm every 5-7 days. The study found that poor small-scale farmers in Malawi, particularly those using MPs, need fuel subsidies in order to offset operational costs. Basing on the findings in the study, we recommend further research on several bean lines in different agro-ecologies of Malawi using technologies that showed high yields, low labour efficiency and high water use productivity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agronomic and socio-economic analysis of water management techniques for dry season cultivation of common bean in Malawi

et al. 2012

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“…In Malawi, many adopters of treadle pump irrigation increased their food security (Mangisoni 2006), however, dissemination costs, drought, physical effort and many other obstacles were barriers to their use.…”

Section: Improving Water Productivity: Implementation and Adoptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interdisciplinary progress in food production, food security and environment research

Acevedo

2011

Envir. Conserv.

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SUMMARYThis review examines contributions of interdisciplinary (ID) research to understanding interactions between environmental quality, food production and food security. Global patterns of food insecurity and crop production are reviewed in relation to climate, land use and economic changes, as well as potential productivity increases compatible with environmental conservation. Interactions between food production and global processes make food insecurity a complex problem that requires ID analysis at local to global scales. Census and satellite data contribute to understanding of global cropland distribution. Analysis of land-use change exemplifies research between natural and social sciences. Quantitative modelling of global climate change impacts indicates relatively greater potential food insecurity in developing countries. International food security is increasingly interconnected through economic globalization and incentives for increased food production are required. Societies may not be able to expand available cropland without significant environmental risks; enhanced land and water productivity are the major opportunities available to increase food production. This requires renewed efforts in ID work to design and implement sound and efficient agricultural management practices. Models need to be informed by data from field experiments, long-term measurements and watershed monitoring by ground and remote sensing methods. Agricultural intensification may spare natural land but lead to increased pollution and water demand; reconciling conservation and productivity is a critical need. ID work provides many opportunities for synergies including conservation agriculture at the local level, efficient use of inputs, smarter land use taking into account spatial patterns and landscape ecology principles, and improved water management at field, system, watershed and basin levels. Goal-directed ID research is crucial, since producers, practitioners and policy makers should be * Correspondence: Dr Miguel Acevedo e-mail: acevedo@unt.edu involved. Geospatial, biotechnological and precision agriculture technologies linked with models can help inform strategies to achieve sustainable food production increases that maintain environmental quality. Implementation also requires ID work to overcome impediments due to human factors and facilitate adoption by farmers.

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“…A number of empirical studies across the world have shown that irrigation has a positive impact on poverty (Dillon, 2007;Gebregziabher and Namara, 2009;Mangisoni, 2008;Omilola, 2009). Most irrigation programs are designed as irrigation schemes targeting specific groups of farmers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Does participation in communal water management improve household income? Evidence from Malawi

Jumbe

Nkhata

2015

Water Resources and Rural Development

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Impact of treadle pump irrigation technology on smallholder poverty and food security in Malawi: a case study of Blantyre and Mchinji districts

Cited by 55 publications

References 6 publications

Agronomic and socio-economic analysis of water management techniques for dry season cultivation of common bean in Malawi

Agronomic and socio-economic analysis of water management techniques for dry season cultivation of common bean in Malawi

Interdisciplinary progress in food production, food security and environment research

Does participation in communal water management improve household income? Evidence from Malawi

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