Herbicide Induced Hunger? Effects of Herbicide Adoption on Ganyu Labour and food security in Central Malawi

The promotion of technology adoption can have unexpected social equity implications. Bouwman, Andersson, and Giller of Wageningen University will present the results of a study on the impact of herbicide adoption on casual labour relations (ganyu) in Central Malawi. The increased use of herbicides resulted in decreased hiring of ganyu, an important livelihood strategy of rural households. Without this economic opportunity, the poorest households that relied on ganyu to meet their consumption needs went hungry while the herbicides mainly benefited the better-off who could afford them.

SPEAKER:

Tristin Bouwman is the Crop Manager at Heppells Potato Corp. Jens Andersson works at the Plant Production Systems group of Wageningen University (WU). Jens does research in smallholder farming systems in Africa, development studies, agronomy, and environmental science. Ken Giller is Professor Plant Production Systems, at WU. Ken’s research has focused on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular problems of soil fertility.

 

Webcast