508
1 Introduction
1.1 Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies
in Malawi
Climate change effects threaten to reduce maize production, which is a staple
food crop in most parts of Malawi, and threaten already vulnerable rural livelihoods (Msowoya et al. 2016). The increased focus on the negative impact of climate change and the associated need for adaptation of agronomic technologies
and practices are spelt out in research and development efforts to promote climate
smart agriculture (CSA) technologies in Malawi (Government of Malawi (GOM)
2012, 2016). The support to smallholders places strong emphasis on CSA practices as tools for increasing yields, while building resilience towards impact of
climate change and at the same time reducing carbon emissions (FAO 2017).
Lipper et al. (2014) state that CSA is ‘an approach for transforming agricultural
systems, primarily aimed at supporting food security under the new realities of
climate change.’ The most common CSA practice in Malawi is conservation agriculture (CA) based on minimal soil mechanical disturbance, permanent organic
soil cover by crop residues and/or cover crops and diversified crop rotations with
legumes (Ngwira et al. 2014). A range of other climate resilient technologies are
also promoted, in association or alone, by non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), Ministry of Agriculture through its extension system, international
organisations and multi- and bilateral donor agencies. Adoption of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers is, however, constrained by limited access to inputs,
agricultural resources and information (Lipper et al. 2014). It is argued that smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa possess inadequate resource base required
for proper adoption of CSA technologies (Pingali 2012). Lack of credit and market facilities also results in limited adaptive capacity to adopt agricultural technologies. Although CSA is promoted as a useful approach for transforming
livelihoods and for reducing climate change effects, its success is dependent on
the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers. Increasing the adaptive capacity of
farmers to climate change impacts is therefore necessary to improve productivity
and household food security.
It is widely acknowledged that climate change impacts are gendered. The genderdifferentiated impacts of climate change are directly linked to gender-differentiated
vulnerabilities, coping and adaptation capacities and strategies (WEDO 2010; Goh
2012; Kakota et al. 2011; IPCC 2014). A case study in semi-arid areas of Tanzania
showed that increased climate variability and change contributed to transformation
of traditional gender roles, causing smallholder women farmers to become the main
producers of staple food and in some cases, for cash crop production (Synnevåg
et al. 2014). Although female farmers constitute the main producers of staple food,
gender differences exist in both the level of adaptive capacity and adoption of technologies. Gender-differentiated adaptation strategies and adaptive capacity to climate change influence the adoption of the new CSA technologies.
T. K. Chibowa et al.
1 Introduction
1.1 Adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies
in Malawi
Climate change effects threaten to reduce maize production, which is a staple
food crop in most parts of Malawi, and threaten already vulnerable rural livelihoods (Msowoya et al. 2016). The increased focus on the negative impact of climate change and the associated need for adaptation of agronomic technologies
and practices are spelt out in research and development efforts to promote climate
smart agriculture (CSA) technologies in Malawi (Government of Malawi (GOM)
2012, 2016). The support to smallholders places strong emphasis on CSA practices as tools for increasing yields, while building resilience towards impact of
climate change and at the same time reducing carbon emissions (FAO 2017).
Lipper et al. (2014) state that CSA is ‘an approach for transforming agricultural
systems, primarily aimed at supporting food security under the new realities of
climate change.’ The most common CSA practice in Malawi is conservation agriculture (CA) based on minimal soil mechanical disturbance, permanent organic
soil cover by crop residues and/or cover crops and diversified crop rotations with
legumes (Ngwira et al. 2014). A range of other climate resilient technologies are
also promoted, in association or alone, by non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), Ministry of Agriculture through its extension system, international
organisations and multi- and bilateral donor agencies. Adoption of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers is, however, constrained by limited access to inputs,
agricultural resources and information (Lipper et al. 2014). It is argued that smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa possess inadequate resource base required
for proper adoption of CSA technologies (Pingali 2012). Lack of credit and market facilities also results in limited adaptive capacity to adopt agricultural technologies. Although CSA is promoted as a useful approach for transforming
livelihoods and for reducing climate change effects, its success is dependent on
the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers. Increasing the adaptive capacity of
farmers to climate change impacts is therefore necessary to improve productivity
and household food security.
It is widely acknowledged that climate change impacts are gendered. The genderdifferentiated impacts of climate change are directly linked to gender-differentiated
vulnerabilities, coping and adaptation capacities and strategies (WEDO 2010; Goh
2012; Kakota et al. 2011; IPCC 2014). A case study in semi-arid areas of Tanzania
showed that increased climate variability and change contributed to transformation
of traditional gender roles, causing smallholder women farmers to become the main
producers of staple food and in some cases, for cash crop production (Synnevåg
et al. 2014). Although female farmers constitute the main producers of staple food,
gender differences exist in both the level of adaptive capacity and adoption of technologies. Gender-differentiated adaptation strategies and adaptive capacity to climate change influence the adoption of the new CSA technologies.
T. K. Chibowa et al.