Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi
The livestock sector is integral to Malawi’s mixed farming systems, contributing 22–30% of GDP and employing over 80% of the labor force. However, a lack of scientific information on integrating mixed farming systems, coupled with inadequate stakeholder coordination, has hindered its potential to en...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
2025
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180091 |
| _version_ | 1855524198885097472 |
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| author | Bekele, Regassa Hami, Joseph Homann-kee Tui, Sabine Banda, Mcloyd Mwendia, Solomon Notenbaert, An |
| author_browse | Banda, Mcloyd Bekele, Regassa Hami, Joseph Homann-kee Tui, Sabine Mwendia, Solomon Notenbaert, An |
| author_facet | Bekele, Regassa Hami, Joseph Homann-kee Tui, Sabine Banda, Mcloyd Mwendia, Solomon Notenbaert, An |
| author_sort | Bekele, Regassa |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The livestock sector is integral to Malawi’s mixed farming systems, contributing 22–30% of GDP and employing over 80% of the labor force. However, a lack of scientific information on integrating mixed farming systems, coupled with inadequate stakeholder coordination, has hindered its potential to enhance farm productivity. This challenge is exacerbated by population growth, which has led to land fragmentation among smallholder farmers. Farmers and extension workers often fear that cultivating forages will reduce land available for food crops, prioritizing crop production at the expense of livestock feed. Consequently, smallholder farmers face low livestock productivity, with insufficient quality feed, while continuous crop cultivation has resulted in soil erosion, fertility loss, and declining crop yields—ultimately reducing overall farm productivity and perpetuating household food insecurity. To address these challenges, a reconnaissance visit was conducted in December 2024 to identify opportunities for integrating multipurpose forages into Malawi’s mixed farming systems. The study team assessed predominant farming systems, identified challenges, and gathered stakeholder perspectives on cultivated and native forages. Field observations and discussions with farmers, researchers, government officials, development agencies, and private sectors across Malawi’s northern, central, and southern regions revealed opportunities for forage integration. Forage production strategies such as backyard planting, intercropping, alley cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, and push-pull systems are recommended as entry points for improving livestock feed availability while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility, reducing erosion, and controlling pests. Prioritizing the development of improved forage varieties and robust seed supply systems are also recommended to support these strategies. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, farmers, private sector actors, and international donors, offering actionable pathways to unlock the potential of mixed farming systems in Malawi. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace180091 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1800912026-01-20T02:06:46Z Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi Bekele, Regassa Hami, Joseph Homann-kee Tui, Sabine Banda, Mcloyd Mwendia, Solomon Notenbaert, An sustainable intensification mixed farming feed crop The livestock sector is integral to Malawi’s mixed farming systems, contributing 22–30% of GDP and employing over 80% of the labor force. However, a lack of scientific information on integrating mixed farming systems, coupled with inadequate stakeholder coordination, has hindered its potential to enhance farm productivity. This challenge is exacerbated by population growth, which has led to land fragmentation among smallholder farmers. Farmers and extension workers often fear that cultivating forages will reduce land available for food crops, prioritizing crop production at the expense of livestock feed. Consequently, smallholder farmers face low livestock productivity, with insufficient quality feed, while continuous crop cultivation has resulted in soil erosion, fertility loss, and declining crop yields—ultimately reducing overall farm productivity and perpetuating household food insecurity. To address these challenges, a reconnaissance visit was conducted in December 2024 to identify opportunities for integrating multipurpose forages into Malawi’s mixed farming systems. The study team assessed predominant farming systems, identified challenges, and gathered stakeholder perspectives on cultivated and native forages. Field observations and discussions with farmers, researchers, government officials, development agencies, and private sectors across Malawi’s northern, central, and southern regions revealed opportunities for forage integration. Forage production strategies such as backyard planting, intercropping, alley cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, and push-pull systems are recommended as entry points for improving livestock feed availability while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility, reducing erosion, and controlling pests. Prioritizing the development of improved forage varieties and robust seed supply systems are also recommended to support these strategies. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, farmers, private sector actors, and international donors, offering actionable pathways to unlock the potential of mixed farming systems in Malawi. 2025-05 2026-01-19T09:51:07Z 2026-01-19T09:51:07Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180091 en Open Access application/pdf Bekele, R.; Hami, J.; Homann-kee Tui, S.; Banda, M.; Mwendia, S.; Notenbaert, A. (2025) Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi. 21 p. |
| spellingShingle | sustainable intensification mixed farming feed crop Bekele, Regassa Hami, Joseph Homann-kee Tui, Sabine Banda, Mcloyd Mwendia, Solomon Notenbaert, An Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title | Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title_full | Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title_short | Potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in Malawi |
| title_sort | potential of multipurpose forages to enhance mixed smallholder farming productivity and food security in malawi |
| topic | sustainable intensification mixed farming feed crop |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180091 |
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