Smallholder Farmer Innovation and Contexts in Maize-Based Conservation Agriculture Systems in Central Malawi

Abstract

The increased threat of food insecurity and climate change requires more sustainable ways of agriculture intensification in African smallholder farming systems. Ample evidence confirms that maize-based conservation agriculture (CA) systems lead to increased soil health and yield enhancement yet their overall uptake remains low in Africa. An array of studies on challenges and solutions to CA systems conducted in southern Africa principally focussed on the views of scientists, often neglecting the views of CA farmers. Therefore, this study assessed farmer decision making, innovation and contexts during implementation of maize-based CA systems in communities of central Malawi. A survey involving interviews with 226 CA farmers was deployed, triangulated with key informants comprising extension workers and policy makers. The study showed that about 58% of smallholder farmers did not adapt CA practices to their circumstances because they were strictly following change agents" recommendations. The major challenge noted was competition for crop residues due to mice hunters and grazing livestock. Local by-laws initiated by the communities have started to privatise the crop residues and its grazing. However, other innovations were often not documented by extension workers, consequently neglecting more than half of the potential solutions provided by farmers. The establishments of a National Conservation Agriculture Task Force and CA guidelines are positive developments for coordination of stakeholders and harmonisation of CA messages in Malawi. However, for greater adoption, non-linear interaction and learning must be encouraged in practice by fully embracing innovative farmers and the voices of the pool of stakeholders with varying experiences.

An Empirically Derived Conceptual Framework to Assess Dis-Adoption of Conservation Agriculture: Multiple Drivers and Institutional Deficiencies

“…Dougill et al, 2017;Gunter et al, 2016;Hermans, Stuiver, Beers & Kok, 2013, 2013Hall, Mytelka & Oyeyinka, 2006). The AIS framework also provides an effective guide for examining structures, capacity, operations and processes of the various organisations governing the relevant agricultural system, often overlooked in linear technology generation and transfer approaches (Kaluzi, Thierfelder, & Hopkins, 2017).…”

“…While CA requires several agronomic practices applied simultaneously, 25% of survey respondents (n=300) stated that implementing such regimented activities was too involving. Considering that strict adherence to the core principles is central in most CA projects in Malawi (Kaluzi et al, 2017), many smallholders are reluctant to expand their CA fields. Area under CA for 83% of questionnaire respondents (n=300) remained at 0.01 ha.…”

“…We found scarcity of mulch materials to be a common challenge, reported by 51% of respondents (n=271), yet farmers frequently lost their crop residues laid for mulching in their CA fields to acts of sabotage, mainly deliberate torching or theft. Competing uses of crop residues compound the issue of mulch sabotage, hence farmers get frustrated, particularly where support of traditional leaders is lacking or where measures or bylaws to protect CA fields are not enforced (Kaluzi et al, 2017). As distorted extension messages make farmers believe they can only practice CA using dead mulch, persistent loss of mulch laid in CA fields becomes unbearable and many farmers settle on dis-adopting CA because they cannot practice mulching as required by promoters.…”

Policy Integration and Coherence for Conservation Agriculture Initiatives in Malawi

“…Malawi provided an appropriate case for this study because despite CA being incorporated in Malawi"s agricultural policies, as a strategy for improving agricultural production and resilience in smallholder farming systems (Mloza-Banda & Nanthambwe, 2010), adoption levels remain meagre with only 2% of the country"s smallholders practicing some form of CA (Kaluzi et al, 2017). This signals potential shortcomings in relevant policies vis-a-vis CA, considering that policies shape what gets prioritised and implemented.…”

“…Generation and dissemination of new agricultural innovations has traditionally driven the national development and policy agenda in the sub-Saharan region (Teklewold, Kassie, & Shiferaw, 2012) as attempts have continued to address these concerns. One such innovation is conservation agriculture (CA), defined as a sustainable farming system anchored on three fundamental principles: minimal soil disturbance (reduced tillage), permanent soil cover and crop associations (Kaluzi, Thierfelder, & Hopkins, 2017). According to FAO (2015), the three principles need to be practised simultaneously, in addition to other good agricultural practices, for optimal results.…”