A presentation made at the WCCA 2011 event in Brisbane, Australia.

1. Adaptation of conservation agriculture by
smallholder farmers in Malawi: drivers,
intensity, benefits and problems for up scaling
Amos Ngwira, Mulugetta Mekuria, Christian
Thierfelder and Jens Aune
2111
2005
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

2. Introduction
Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
 Food security is a major
concern in southern Africa
region
 Maize - main staple
 Drought, low soil fertility and
weak value chains
 Low adoption and limited
capabilities in responding to
stress factors
 More sustainable production
2 practices - CA
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

3. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES Introduction
 Wide CA adoption in the
Americas and Australia
 Major reasons :
– Limited research to adapt principles
of CA
– Knowledge intensive nature of CA
– Long periods to realize benefits
 Farmer experimenting with CA
 Assess major drivers of CA
experimentation among
smallholder farmers as well as
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intensity of farmer adapatation
of CA practices
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

4. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Study Methodology 3056
Nkhotakota
 Data collection 5230
– using sturctured questionnaire
– A total of 300 farmers were
interviewed as follows
– Key informant interviews
– Field observations
 Categories of farmers
– 150 adopters
– 50 farmers who tried CA but later Balaka
abandoned
– 50 farmers who have never tried CA
4 before
 Study period
– May to June 2010 http://www.umb.no/noragric/

5. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES Drivers of farmer experimentation with CA
 Herbicide use is one of the principal factors
– Major reasons provoking farmers’ interest CA:
90
80
70
60
Percentage
50
40
30
20
10
0
5 Labor saving Higher yields Soil moisture Soil erosion Enhanced soil Other
retention control fertility
Motivations for CA
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

6. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Drivers of farmer experimentation with CA
 Other principal factors
include:
– Establishment of local
innovation system
– Motivation of extension
worker
– Existence of a strong social
network
– Farmer to farmer exchange
visits and farmer field days
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/

7. http://www.umb.no/noragric/
Intensity of CA adoption
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
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Studies, Noragric

8. http://www.umb.no/noragric/
Intensity of CA adoption
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
8
Studies, Noragric

9. http://www.umb.no/noragric/
Adoption of Specific Components of the CA Package
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
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Studies, Noragric

10. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Farmers’ scenarios and experiences with CA
 Limited use of CA equipment
 Some trade-offs on use of crop
residues – rodents hunting
 Limited widespread use of crop
rotation due to:
– Pritoritizing food security concerns
– General shortage of legume seed
– Inadequate knowledge of rotation
systems
– Undeveloped produce markets Maize intercropped with Pigeon
10
pea, Chipeni, Malawi
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

11. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES Major breakthroughs of CA
into maize based systems and
modifications by farmers
 Monocropping to intercropping
 Crop rotations
 Extending CA principles to other
crops such as cassava, paprika, Cassava planted in basins under
CA, Balaka, Malawi
soybean
 Experimenting with low doses of
herbicides to control weeds
 Planting of relay crops such as
cowpea and tomato
 Long duration pigeon pea varieties
to shorter duration varieties
11  Planting pigeonpea between rows of
companion crops other than within Red chili in rotation with maize
rows
http://www.umb.no/noragric/

12. http://www.umb.no/noragric/
CA Impacts
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
12
Studies, Noragric

13. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Reasons for disadoption and non adoption of CA
 Limited access to inputs (54%)
 Lack of information (70%9
 Discontinued donor support (43%)
 Perception that herbicides destroy soils (23%)
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/

14. Studies, Noragric
Department of International Environment and Development
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Conclusion
 Major drivers of farmer experimentation with CA
included herbicides, extension support, social capital,
farmer exchange visits, field days, etc
 Benefits of CA include labour saving, soil fertility
improvement, higher yields, increased soil moisture
retention, etc
 Farmers allocate small area under CA compared to
conventional practice due largely to limited inputs
 Limited access to inputs and technical information on
CA were major reasons for non adoption
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http://www.umb.no/noragric/

15. http://www.umb.no/noragric/
THANK YOU
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Department of International Environment and Development
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Studies, Noragric