NEWS:

6 Apr, 2016


A maize field in Machinga affected by the 2015-2016 dry spell

Scientists from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources have completed a research that was analysing the extent to which the 2015/16 El Nino season has impacted on small-holder farmers in Malawi. The study took place in ten districts of Mzimba and Rumphi in Northern region, Dedza, Nkhota-kota, Mchinji, and Salima in Central Region, Balaka, Chikwawa, Machinga and Phalombe in the South.

Initial findings show that despite the normal and above normal rainfall predicted by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, most of the districts covered by the study were affected by late on-set of rains. As such majority of farmers planted their crops between December 15 and 31, 2015. The study further found out that the first planting across the country was affected by prolonged dry spells in the months of January and February. Field observations revealed that some farmers were still planting in the month of February 2016 and that most of farmers were still preparing their gardens to plant and replant.

Despite the scarcity of early rains and changes in rainfall patterns over the years, farmers did not take cautious interventions to address El Nino related impacts such as dry spells and drought for example by growing drought resistant crops like cassava and sweet potatoes in the early phases of the season.

According to the Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Dr. David Mkwambisi, the results from the research show that most of the farmers experienced prolonged dry spells at the start of the season. This was more prominent in Nkhota-kota, Chikwawa, Phalombe and Balaka. Dr. Mkwambisi indicated that during the study period ,January and February 2016, majority of the smallholder farmers were mostly faced with late rains and predicted that the 2015/16 rainy season will be shorter and farmers forecasted a decreasing trend in the amount of rainfall for the rest of the season.

The study further assessed whether the forecast was linked to agricultural related investments. Results show that key investments included purchase fertilizer followed by use of early maturing varieties. The scientists observed that despite farmers expecting a normal season, their investments were to purchase early maturing seed. They noted that this could have been influenced by experience over the years due to early cessation of the rains. Regrettably, the study found that the most favoured early maturing maize seed called Kanyani was not readily available in most parts of the country including those benefiting from the subsidy programme.

The researchers found that fewer farmers invested in livestock production, crop diversification, conservation agriculture and winter farming. Despite the government and Non Governmental Organizations promoting conservation agriculture, the 2014/15 flooding seasons affected most farmers that adopted the conservation agriculture technology thereby increasing the number of farmers that did not adopt the practice during the 2015/16 season.

The researchers concluded that conservation agriculture could have been widely adopted if proper weather and climate information was provided to the farming community with a strong working relationship between department of Agricultural Extension Services and Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.

The study further found that the promotion of tuber crops by mostly NGOs was done in January and February 2016 when most of the districts did not have enough rains. In addition, findings proved that both sweet potatoes and cassava crops were also drying despite being promoted as drought resistant crops due to late planting.

The findings further show that most of the agricultural irrigation schemes supported by the Government and NGOs were directly depending on rainwater. Due to limited amount of rainwater, most of the irrigation schemes were not able to support agricultural activities resulting in food insecurity in many districts. This was more felt by farmers at Mikoka Irrigation Scheme in Machinga whereby during the 2014/15 season the irrigation scheme was being constructed and during the 2015/16 the scheme did not have water. Worse still, there were water shortages in Lake Chirwa for fish resources as well as the outbreak of cholera. Communities were hopeless for the rest of the season.

Scarcity of rainfall has affected smallholder farmers in many ways. Those that depend on rice especially in the southern region did not have the opportunity to transplant their crop. Others were forced to transplant late in February despite the fact that last day of planting is supposed to be mid February. This shows that they will not have income as well as food from own production. Those households that depend on agricultural work, failed to get meaningful employment across the country, thereby resulting in widespread food insecurity. This was compounded by lack of maize in ADMARC depots.

The impact has affected women and children more as they are the ones mostly involved in searching for food every day and more vulnerable to climate change. Household lacked local foods, as there was no water in most parts of the district and could not benefit from early harvests due to late rains or prolonged dry spells. Even though some of the households were selling their assets including livestock, the market price was very low failing to purchase enough food let alone support school going children. It was further noted that some of the school going children were also involved in search of food affecting their education.

The research report concludes that farmers are lacking proper weather information to guide them with farming planning and investments, resulting in many farmers loosing income through replanting, prolonged management of crops at the nursery, planting of local varieties and non- adoption of improved technologies. The researchers have further concluded that the country will be faced with food shortage especially in the southern region and most of the farmers will be very vulnerable due to the double tragedy resulting from 2014/15 floods and 2015/16 late rains, prolonged dry spells and less rains.

Researchers have advised for better solutions to food production that include effective irrigation programmes to be managed by the private sector, targeting the right group for agricultural interventions and putting in place proper agricultural extension frameworks that are coordinated by the Department of Extension and Agricultural Services. There is need to generate agricultural information that is guided by proper meteorological information. The system should identify farmers who can access weather information and share with the rest of the farming community for proper agricultural planning and investment.

There is need for proper agricultural investment plans that will enhance resilience among smallholder farmers. NGOs that have no capacity to drive the agricultural sector should refrain providing information that has not been approved by the government. Key players that drive the agricultural sector at district level should try to explore and adopt initiatives that will guide agricultural investments at local level. There is also need for government to guide farmers with proper and credible weather information that can be readily available at Extension Planning Areas. The FISP package, if to be continued, should be designed to support farmers according to agricultural zones rather than the one-size fit-all-package that is provided without regard to varying weather conditions.

The research was supported by Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change (CABMACC) programme funded by the Government of Norway. Other researchers are: Mr. Harold Chisale, Dr. Alexander Kalimbira, Dr. Joseph Dzanja and Miss Zione Kalumikiza


Written by Christie Kang'ombe