Does Conservation Agriculture Enhance Household Food Security? Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Nkhotakota in Malawi

The study identified factors that influence the adoption and contribution of conservation agriculture (CA) on household food security among smallholder farmers. To determine factors that affect the adoption of CA among smallholder farmers, a probit regression model was used. Then, the study compared estimated production function between adopters and non- adopters of CA. From the descriptive statistics, there are significant difference in the number of years of schooling, household land size, income levels and potential labour availability. From the probit regression results, age, education level of the household head, increase in the number of extension visits and land holding size are important in influencing the adoption of CA in the study area. Further results indicate that adoption of CA technology increases household maize production. Cobb-Douglas production estimates showed that CA adopters had more than 50% higher maize production than that of non-adopters. In addition, there are greater than proportionate unit increase in maize production with unit increase in all input factors of production among CA adopters. The paper recommends that there should be improvement in the delivery of extension services in the promotion and dissemination of agricultural technology to improve adoption rates and improve food security status in the study areas. This can be achieved by increasing number of extension workers operating in the areas and increase number of demonstrations when introducing CA technology to farmers. Again, access to formal education should be improved to enhance knowledge acquisition and understanding of CA technology components.