Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice
In Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new land. The country's primary farming population is comprised of smallholders, many who cultivate monocultures of maize (Zea mays). To reduce negative outcomes from this practice, intercropping maize wi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2017-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1375070 |
| _version_ | 1797681204932116480 |
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| author | Timothy R. Silberg Robert B. Richardson Michele Hockett Sieglinde S. Snapp |
| author_facet | Timothy R. Silberg Robert B. Richardson Michele Hockett Sieglinde S. Snapp |
| author_sort | Timothy R. Silberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new land. The country's primary farming population is comprised of smallholders, many who cultivate monocultures of maize (Zea mays). To reduce negative outcomes from this practice, intercropping maize with legumes has been promoted. The sustainable intensification (SI) practice was once widely used, but has declined in recent decades. Little is known about the determinants of intercropping or its role in agricultural development. The objective of this study was to examine the drivers of intercropping among smallholders. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate the determinants of intercropping based on a survey of 324 households. Smallholders who sold legumes were more likely to intercrop, contrary to literature positing intercropping as a practice primarily intended to enhance food security. In addition, complementary SI practices such as fertilizer, manure and compost application were more likely to have occurred on intercropped fields relative to sole maize fields. Furthermore, smallholder farmers appeared to apply more fertilizer to their intercropped fields relative to their sole maize fields. The study highlights the value of including field-level characteristics and household socioeconomic survey data to understand farming practices as a means to inform agricultural policy. Abbreviations: SI: sustainable intensification; MLI: maize-legume intercrop; DL: doubled-up legumes |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c3ec72fb8c443a6a8737b76cc5115ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c3ec72fb8c443a6a8737b76cc5115ab2023-09-19T15:22:20ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2017-11-0115666268010.1080/14735903.2017.13750701375070Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practiceTimothy R. Silberg0Robert B. Richardson1Michele Hockett2Sieglinde S. Snapp3Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityIn Malawi, population growth has reduced opportunities for farmers to expand and cultivate new land. The country's primary farming population is comprised of smallholders, many who cultivate monocultures of maize (Zea mays). To reduce negative outcomes from this practice, intercropping maize with legumes has been promoted. The sustainable intensification (SI) practice was once widely used, but has declined in recent decades. Little is known about the determinants of intercropping or its role in agricultural development. The objective of this study was to examine the drivers of intercropping among smallholders. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to estimate the determinants of intercropping based on a survey of 324 households. Smallholders who sold legumes were more likely to intercrop, contrary to literature positing intercropping as a practice primarily intended to enhance food security. In addition, complementary SI practices such as fertilizer, manure and compost application were more likely to have occurred on intercropped fields relative to sole maize fields. Furthermore, smallholder farmers appeared to apply more fertilizer to their intercropped fields relative to their sole maize fields. The study highlights the value of including field-level characteristics and household socioeconomic survey data to understand farming practices as a means to inform agricultural policy. Abbreviations: SI: sustainable intensification; MLI: maize-legume intercrop; DL: doubled-up legumeshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1375070smallholder farmersintercroppingsustainable intensificationlegumessoil fertilityfood securitymalawi |
| spellingShingle | Timothy R. Silberg Robert B. Richardson Michele Hockett Sieglinde S. Snapp Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability smallholder farmers intercropping sustainable intensification legumes soil fertility food security malawi |
| title | Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice |
| title_full | Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice |
| title_fullStr | Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice |
| title_short | Maize-legume intercropping in central Malawi: determinants of practice |
| title_sort | maize legume intercropping in central malawi determinants of practice |
| topic | smallholder farmers intercropping sustainable intensification legumes soil fertility food security malawi |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1375070 |
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