Adaptation to climate stress is an unprecedented challenge facing cropping systems. Most adaptation assessments focus on how adaptation options affect yields of a single crop under different weather or climate conditions. Yet, cropping systems often comprise more than one crop, and holistic assessments should consider all crops grown in a...

Two new studies published by the Agriculture Policy Research in Africa (APRA) collaboration present a bleak picture of Malawi's smallholder farmers' future. This article builds on the results of APRA Working Papers to better understand the realities of smallholder farming in Malawi and what the future holds for those who...

Cette technologie décrit méthodiquement comment faire une ruche à barre supérieures (modèle du Kenya). Une ruche à barres supérieures, (ou une ruche à barres mobiles) est une caisse rectangulaire couverte avec des barres d’une largeur fixées. Les abeilles commenceront la construction de leurs rayons à partir du centre des barres...

This technology describes step by step how to make a top bar hive (Kenyan model). A top bar hive, or moveable comb hive, is a rectangle box covered with bars of a fixed width. Bees will build their combs from the centre of the top bar, hanging down. To attract...

In this video we will learn how to recognise Newcastle disease, and the signs, causes, prevention, control and management of this devastating disease.

Dans cette vidéo, nous allons apprendre à reconnaître la maladie de Newcastle, et les signes, les causes, les moyens de prévention, de contrôle et de gestion de cette maladie dévastatrice.

Not only is fish an important part of nutrition in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but it is also a major–and unrecognized–element of trade. Fish and fish products are a primary source of protein and essential nutrients in the human diet. Various fish and other aquatic species are available from...

Measures that empower young agri-entrepreneurs should be a key component of a sustainable development-centred investment promotion strategy. The very realization of future generations’ food security, the sustainable transformation of food systems and the combat against unemployment and distress migration all depend upon the successful implementation of strategies that make the...

While listening to a recent broadcast on Belgium’s Radio 1 about the magic lantern and the “lanternists” who entertained paying audiences, I realised that some developments we think off as highly innovative may also be seen as a modification of something that existed hundreds of years ago.  The magic lantern projected...

As supplementary technology in evergreen agriculture, agroforestry technology will focus on the concept of simultaneous intercropping of proven fertilizer trees in replenishing soil fertility and increasing crop yields. Simultaneous intercropping is an agroforestry technique whereby nitrogen fixing woody trees are simultaneously grown with annual crops on the same piece of...

Evergreen Agriculture is a combination of conservation agriculture and agroforestry practices within the same spatial and temporal dimensions. In other circles, evergreen agriculture is referred to as agroforestry based conservation agriculture or Conservation Agriculture With Trees (CAWT). Evergreen agriculture is being tested by The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in conjunction...

The notion that maize is central to food security in Malawi is a widely held view. To date, however, ‘maize-led development’ has produced disappointing outcomes. The study provides an overview of the historical, political, environmental context of the maize agrifood system in Malawi, and uses the TEEBAgriFood framework to analyze...

Malawi is vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change, owing to its significant exposure to climate variability and environmental degradation as a result of human activities over the years. In a bid to enhance resilience among rural subsistence farmers, who make up 70 percent of total population of about 17...

FAO Malawi is set to kick-off three Farmer Field School (FFS) master trainer’s courses that will run from 8 October 2018 to 28 February 2019. These courses aim to impart knowledge and skills to 90 government and non-governmental organization (NGO) extension workers, training them as master trainers on FFS methodology....

In sub-Saharan Africa, crop diversification features prominently in many countries’ climate change adaptation strategies. This study focuses on the determinants of adoption and on the impact of seven cropping systems in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. The work finds that the selection of a high volatile or low productive cropping system...

Due to the challenging couple years for Malawian farmers, government and other stakeholders have started teaching local farmers on the climate change resilience farming methods that are making a difference in securing small farmers' livelihoods. 

This brief 3-minute video reportage highlights the International Treaty’s first field visit with a high-level donor representative, the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Agriculture & Food, into rural Northern Malawi to visit a Benefit-sharing Fund project. It explains the problem and how the FAO International Treaty’s Benefit-sharing Fund is supporting farmers...

Climate change is projected to have severe implications for smallholder agriculture in Africa, with increased temperatures, increased drought and flooding occurrence, and increased rainfall variability. Given these projections, there is a need to identify effective strategies to help rural communities adapt to climatic risks. Yet, relatively little research has examined...

Using a randomized controlled trial, we examine the impacts of cash and input transfers, and a cross-randomized program of intensive agricultural extension over two years. We find large effects on the total value of agricultural production from the transfers (both cash and inputs) in both years. Gains to production are...

Various models and approaches are being implemented to provide technical assistance and support to improve smallholder farmers’ incomes and welfare in Malawi. This study evaluates the impact of farmer business schools (FBS) on crop incomes of smallholder farmers in Dedza district in central Malawi. The FBS approach, which has been...