Economic assessment of the benefits of soybeans incorporation in smallholder maize-based farming systems and the factors affecting its adoption in Malawi
2007
A. Kabuli | M.A.R. Phiri | A. Khalil
Malawi’s agricultural productivity is currently constrained by factors such as shortage of land, low use of external inputs and declining soil fertility in most parts of the Southern Africa. This decline in productivity poses a threat to household food security and sustainability of the maize-based farming systems. Therefore, the development of alternative sources of plant nutrients through incorporation of grain legumes is one of the promising technology options available to farmers to reverse soil fertility decline. Legumes such as Soybeans offer multiple benefits to farmers as they have the potential to enhance soil fertility, improve household nutrition and increase income for small scale farmers throughout Malawi. To overcome this, a survey aimed at understanding the soybean incorporation in maize system, and the socio-cultural characteristics conditioning the adoption and production of this crop was conducted in Malosa, Bembeke and Lilongwe Agricultural Development Divisions (ADDs). <br /><br />The study brings to light the fact that soybeans fit well into the cropping system of poorer households because has a number of advantages:<br /> there is an increment in the potential yield there is soil fertility amelioration there are multiple benefits of cash and food. <br /><br />Based on the above advantages, the author recommends more resource poor farmers to be encouraged through increased information dissemination to adopt and incorporate the soybean technology particularly the rotation of soybeans with maize in order for them to benefit as much as possible.
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