IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i20p9078-d1502498.html

Understanding Crop Diversification Among Smallholder Farmers: Socioeconomic Insights from Central Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Donald Nyamayevu

    (College of Agronomy, Hebei Agriculture University, 289 Lingyusi Street, Baoding 071051, China)

  • Isaiah Nyagumbo

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), 12.5 KM Peg, Mazowe Road, Mt. Pleasant, P.O. Box MP163, Harare 00263, Zimbabwe)

  • Mazvita Chiduwa

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Chitedze Research Station, Mchinji Road, Lilongwe P.O. Box 1096, Malawi)

  • Weili Liang

    (College of Agronomy, Hebei Agriculture University, 289 Lingyusi Street, Baoding 071051, China)

  • Ruiqi Li

    (College of Agronomy, Hebei Agriculture University, 289 Lingyusi Street, Baoding 071051, China)

Abstract

In Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), smallholder rain-fed systems are vital, yet they are challenged by land degradation, soil fertility decline, and climate risks. To address these challenges, crop diversification has been promoted as a potential pathway to enhance productivity, improve nutritional security, and offer a viable pathway out of poverty and hunger. This study explores crop diversification among 150 smallholder households in the Kasungu, Mchinji, and Lilongwe districts of Malawi, where the project Sustainable Intensification of Maize Legume Systems in East and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) has engaged the smallholder farmers in conservation agriculture (CA)-based sustainable intensification participatory research and development for seven years since 2010. This study used Simpson’s diversity index (SDI) to estimate crop diversification, and a multiple linear regression model (MLRM) to analyze how smallholder farmers’ socio-economic characteristics influence adoption. The findings show a prevalence of small farms of less than 1.5 hectares, with most farmers perceiving crop diversification as beneficial for soil fertility. Key adoption constraints include labor shortages and a lack of legume seeds. SIMLESA participants lead in crop rotations, with a 63% higher adoption rate, and show the highest crop diversity, with a 99% increase in farmers growing three crops and a 74% increase in those growing four crops compared to non-SIMLESA farmers. The SDI values were 0.39 for non-SIMLESA, 0.48 for SIMLESA neighbors, and 0.57 for SIMLESA participants. Access to NGO inputs, larger farm sizes, and participation in research programs were positively associated with diversification, while food insufficiency was negatively associated with its adoption. The study highlights the importance of integrating participatory research methods to promote development initiatives effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Donald Nyamayevu & Isaiah Nyagumbo & Mazvita Chiduwa & Weili Liang & Ruiqi Li, 2024. "Understanding Crop Diversification Among Smallholder Farmers: Socioeconomic Insights from Central Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9078-:d:1502498
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/20/9078/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/20/9078/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yigezu, Yigezu Atnafe & Mugera, Amin & El-Shater, Tamer & Aw-Hassan, Aden & Piggin, Colin & Haddad, Atef & Khalil, Yaseen & Loss, Stephen, 2018. "Enhancing adoption of agricultural technologies requiring high initial investment among smallholders," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 199-206.
    2. Banchayehu Tessema Assefa & Jordan Chamberlin & Pytrik Reidsma & João Vasco Silva & Martin K. Ittersum, 2020. "Unravelling the variability and causes of smallholder maize yield gaps in Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 83-103, February.
    3. Madembo, Connie & Mhlanga, Blessing & Thierfelder, Christian, 2020. "Productivity or stability? Exploring maize-legume intercropping strategies for smallholder Conservation Agriculture farmers in Zimbabwe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    4. Kondylis, Florence & Mueller, Valerie & Zhu, Jessica, 2017. "Seeing is believing? Evidence from an extension network experiment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 1-20.
    5. Gilbert Onionkiton Adjimoti & George Tsey-Mensah Kwadzo & Daniel Bruce Sarpong & Edward Ebo Onumah, 2017. "Input Policies and Crop Diversification: Evidence from the Collines Region in Benin," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(3), pages 512-523, September.
    6. Chibwana, Christopher & Fisher, Monica & Shively, Gerald, 2012. "Cropland Allocation Effects of Agricultural Input Subsidies in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 124-133.
    7. Ganesh Thapa & Anjani Kumar & Devesh Roy & P.K. Joshi, 2018. "Impact of Crop Diversification on Rural Poverty in Nepal," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 66(3), pages 379-413, September.
    8. Maggio, Giuseppe & Sitko, Nicholas J. & Ignaciuk, Ada, "undated". "Cropping system diversification in Eastern and Southern Africa: Identifying policy options to enhance productivity and build resilience," ESA Working Papers 288953, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Busisiwe Vilakazi & Alfred O. Odindo & Mutondwa M. Phophi & Paramu L. Mafongoya, 2025. "Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Crop Diversification Among Smallholder Farmers in Bergville, South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sibbir Ahmad & Melinda Smale & Veronique Theriault & Eugenie Maiga, 2023. "Input subsidies and crop diversity on family farms in Burkina Faso," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 237-254, February.
    2. Nielsen, Thea & Schuenemann, Franziska & McNulty, Emily & Zeller, Manfred & Nkonya, Ephraim M. & Kato, Edward & Meyer, Stefan & Anderson, Weston & Zhu, Tingju & Queface, Antonio & Mapemba, Lawrence, 2015. "The food-energy-water security nexus: Definitions, policies, and methods in an application to Malawi and Mozambique," IFPRI discussion papers 1480, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Yuyang Li & Jiahui Li & Xinjie Li & Qian Lu, 2024. "Does Participation in Digital Supply and Marketing Promote Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Green Agricultural Production Technologies?," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Leavens, Laura & Bauchet, Jonathan & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob, 2021. "After the project is over: Measuring longer-term impacts of a food safety intervention in Senegal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    5. Nicole M. Mason & Thomas S. Jayne & Nicolas van de Walle, 2017. "The Political Economy of Fertilizer Subsidy Programs in Africa: Evidence from Zambia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 99(3), pages 705-731.
    6. Hossain, Marup & Songsermsawas, Tisorn, 2025. "Adapting to Thrive: Training and Access to Finance to Reduce Climate Vulnerability Among Smallholder Farmers in Nepal," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 361170, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Benson, Todd & Mogues, Tewodaj & Woldeyohannes, Sileshi, 2014. "Assessing progress made toward shared agricultural transformation objectives in Mozambique," IFPRI discussion papers 1370, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Raymond Boadi Frempong, 2023. "Do subsidies on seed and fertilizer lead to child labour? Evidence from Malawi," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(2), March.
    9. Sylvester Amoako Agyemang & Tomáš Ratinger & Miroslava Bavorová, 2022. "The Impact of Agricultural Input Subsidy on Productivity: The Case of Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1460-1485, June.
    10. Fisher, Monica & Kandiwa, Vongai, 2014. "Can agricultural input subsidies reduce the gender gap in modern maize adoption? Evidence from Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 101-111.
    11. Bruna Moreira & Alexandre Gonçalves & Luís Pinto & Miguel A. Prieto & Márcio Carocho & Cristina Caleja & Lillian Barros, 2024. "Intercropping Systems: An Opportunity for Environment Conservation within Nut Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-23, July.
    12. Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Jones, Michael, 2015. "Does storage technology affect adoption of improved maize varieties in Africa? Insights from Malawi’s input subsidy program," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 92-105.
    13. Mekonnen, Dawit K. & Dorfman, Jeffrey H., 2017. "Synergy and Learning Effects of Informal Labor-Sharing Arrangements," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-14.
    14. Nyantakyi-Frimpong, Hanson & Mambulu, Faith Nankasa & Bezner Kerr, Rachel & Luginaah, Isaac & Lupafya, Esther, 2016. "Agroecology and sustainable food systems: Participatory research to improve food security among HIV-affected households in northern Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 89-99.
    15. Corral,Carolina & Gine,Xavier & Mahajan,Aprajit & Seira,Enrique, 2020. "Autonomy and Specificity in Agricultural Technology Adoption : Evidence from Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9367, The World Bank.
    16. Ku McMahan & Saad Usmani, 2022. "The Economic Benefits of Supporting Private Social Enterprise at the Nexus of Water and Agriculture: A Social Rate of Return Analysis of the Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    17. Ruth Hill & Carolina Mejia-Mantilla & Kathryn Vasilaky, 2021. "Is the Price Right? Returns to Input Adoption in Uganda," Working Papers 2105, California Polytechnic State University, Department of Economics.
    18. Martey, Edward & Etwire, Prince M. & Adombilla, Ramson & Abebrese, Samuel O., 2023. "Information constraint and farmers’ willingness to pay for an irrigation scheduling tool," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    19. Adamashvili Nino & Fiore Mariantonietta & Contò Francesco & La Sala Piermichele, 2020. "Ecosystem for Successful Agriculture. Collaborative Approach as a Driver for Agricultural Development," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 12(2), pages 242-256, June.
    20. Matita, Mirriam & Chiwaula, Levison & Wadonda Chirwa, Ephraim & Mazalale, Jacob & Walls, Helen, 2022. "Subsidizing improved legume seeds for increased household dietary diversity: Evidence from Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme with implications for addressing malnutrition in all its forms," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9078-:d:1502498. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.