467
adoption and labour constraints (8.6%). Labour constraints were mostly reported
for maize-legume intercropping when it comes to crop residue incorporation. Other
reasons for disadoption included limited land size (5.4%) especially for legumemaize rotation and pests and diseases (5.4%).
1
4 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
This study has analysed and assessed the determinants of both adoption and disadoption of ISFM technologies among the smallholder maize farmers in Central
Malawi. This has been achieved through the application of the multivariate and
bivariate probit models. Consistent with the literature in the area, results have
revealed that adoption decisions regarding ISFM technologies are interdependent.
The study has revealed that the key drivers of ISFM technology adoption are land
tenure, access to extension, access to credit, access to markets, access to legume
seed, landholding sizes and farmer group membership, among others. On the other
hand, similar factors are found to discourage disadoption of ISFM technologies and/
or practices. For instance, access to legume seed discourages disadoption of maizelegume intercropping, while larger landholding sizes encourage adoption of legumemaize rotation. Worth noting, females are more likely to continue with adoption of
maize-legume intercropping.
The study has also established complementary and substitutable relationships in
the (dis)adoption decisions regarding ISFM technologies. For instance, inorganic
fertilizer and maize legume intercropping are adopted as complements (24%), while
maize-legume intercropping and rotation are adopted as complements (33%). From
the results, we recommend that ISFM technologies that include inorganic fertilizer
should not be promoted as individual components but as a package based on their
“best-bet” combinations. For instance, while the agricultural input subsidy in
Malawi has increased adoption of inorganic fertilizer and improved maize seed,
more should be done to scale up the legume component so to promote complementary interventions such as maize-legume intercropping and rotation. This may be
achieved through increasing access to legume seed and both input and output markets among smallholder farmers. We also recommend that promotion of ISFM technologies should focus on those with secure land tenure rights, particularly for
women, so that they are incentivized, as these have shown to have the higher likelihood of investing in ISFM technologies.
1 Particularly, pigeon peas are heavily attacked by pests if not treated.
Determinants of ISFM Technology Adoption and Disadoption Among Smallholder…
adoption and labour constraints (8.6%). Labour constraints were mostly reported
for maize-legume intercropping when it comes to crop residue incorporation. Other
reasons for disadoption included limited land size (5.4%) especially for legumemaize rotation and pests and diseases (5.4%).
1
4 Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
This study has analysed and assessed the determinants of both adoption and disadoption of ISFM technologies among the smallholder maize farmers in Central
Malawi. This has been achieved through the application of the multivariate and
bivariate probit models. Consistent with the literature in the area, results have
revealed that adoption decisions regarding ISFM technologies are interdependent.
The study has revealed that the key drivers of ISFM technology adoption are land
tenure, access to extension, access to credit, access to markets, access to legume
seed, landholding sizes and farmer group membership, among others. On the other
hand, similar factors are found to discourage disadoption of ISFM technologies and/
or practices. For instance, access to legume seed discourages disadoption of maizelegume intercropping, while larger landholding sizes encourage adoption of legumemaize rotation. Worth noting, females are more likely to continue with adoption of
maize-legume intercropping.
The study has also established complementary and substitutable relationships in
the (dis)adoption decisions regarding ISFM technologies. For instance, inorganic
fertilizer and maize legume intercropping are adopted as complements (24%), while
maize-legume intercropping and rotation are adopted as complements (33%). From
the results, we recommend that ISFM technologies that include inorganic fertilizer
should not be promoted as individual components but as a package based on their
“best-bet” combinations. For instance, while the agricultural input subsidy in
Malawi has increased adoption of inorganic fertilizer and improved maize seed,
more should be done to scale up the legume component so to promote complementary interventions such as maize-legume intercropping and rotation. This may be
achieved through increasing access to legume seed and both input and output markets among smallholder farmers. We also recommend that promotion of ISFM technologies should focus on those with secure land tenure rights, particularly for
women, so that they are incentivized, as these have shown to have the higher likelihood of investing in ISFM technologies.
1 Particularly, pigeon peas are heavily attacked by pests if not treated.
Determinants of ISFM Technology Adoption and Disadoption Among Smallholder…