ICAR Research Data Repository for Knowledge Management

The purpose of the Africa RISING Malawi component is to enhance farmer knowledge and support sustainable intensification (SI) pathways for productivity gains in maize-legume diversified systems, that also integrates livestock-related enterprises such as improved fodder for intensified dairy production.

About the project

Project title: AfricaRISING - Sustainable intensification of maize-legume-livestock integrated farming systems in East and Southern Africa

Project abstract

The Malawi project has local theme 'Agro-ecological intensification in Malawi through action research with smallholder farmers' with a lot of emphasis on co-learning with farmers and other stakeholders.The purpose of the Africa RISING Malawi component is to enhance farmer knowledge and support sustainable intensification (SI) pathways for productivity gains in maize-legume diversified systems, that also integrates livestock-related enterprises such as improved fodder for intensified dairy production. The project is setting up a research approach that systematically assesses SI best-bet options that appropriately respond to the needs of resource-poor farmers - particularly female headed households. Building on successful examples of participatory action research and experiences from biophysical research on smallholder farms in Malawi over the past 2 decades, the research team has begun taping into these products of agricultural research to move towards more sustainable smallholder production systems. We envisage that farm-scale production strategies employed by different farm/farmer typologies will be further distilled through scenario analyses using farming systems simulation modeling approaches. The project works with an alliance of actors, (agro-dealers, extension services, NGOs, local government structures, etc) as R4D platforms for the two districts.

Project website: http://africa-rising.net

Project start date: 01/01/2012

Project end date : 30/9/2016