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Terms of Reference Undertake a Scoping Study for the Ukama Ustawi Learning Alliance

Plano de Gestão de Resíduos - Centro Regional de Liderança da Mandioca: Malanje-Angola

TORS: REVISION OF THE CCARDESA LONG-TERM STRATEGY AND MEDIUM-TERM OPERATIONAL PLAN

Despite having potential, Malawi’s wheat production has been characterized by low production and productivity. The prospects for scaling up wheat production in Malawi are based on the suitability of different areas for wheat production, increase in global prices and existence of large and growing domestic and regional export markets. Scaling production of wheat in Malawi will fail unless challenges are addressed. These include overreliance on rainfed production, limited access to improved varieties for wheat, fertilizers, capacity building in best agronomic practices, and lack of access to existing lucrative markets. There is need to conduct a value chain analysis with key stakeholders to assist in developing the value chain

Insect farming is a high-potential emerging farming enterprise in sub-Saharan Africa and their production has a relatively small ecological footprint. Black Soldier Fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is a promising insect species for a sustainable and innovative alternative protein source in animal feed. Little or no evidence exists showing whether BSF is a viable alternative sustainable feed ingredient in aquaculture and animal feed in Malawi or an economically feasible option for farmers. The objective of the study is to evaluate the financial feasibility of BSF farming at various scales of production using Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) with data collected from a small-scale pilot BSF farm in Lilongwe. The study addressed the following research questions: (a) What are the costs and benefits of farming BSF in Malawi for (i) small-scale farming (individual farmers, clubs, and cooperatives), and (ii) large-scale commercial farmers? (b) What drives variation in the benefit/cost ratio (BCR) of BSF farming across scales? (c) How could policies improve BCRs of BSF farming to support adoption in Malawi? The indicators used to assess the economic viability of BSF farming for smallholder and commercial farmers in this study included Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit Cost Ratio. Results imply BSF farming is viable and feasible across scales of production. Small-scale farmers will generate roughly MK507,100 (US$ of gross revenue for one larval cycle and MK2,535,500 (over $2,500) annually. Commercial farmers can generate MK1,536,100 for one larval cycle and MK7,680,750 annually. Sensitivity analysis shows BSF farming remains profitable even within a 10% variation in the cost of production, the price of outputs, and the yield of BSF larvae and frass.

Based on production and export data, groundnut has the potential to contribute to Malawi’s agricultural diversification agenda, for both food and export purposes. According to key informants interviewed, the main challenges faced in the groundnut value chain are high aflatoxin contamination, limited access to improved seed, and limited access to structured markets. Policy options should focus on addressing issues that limit productivity and strategies for mitigating aflatoxin contamination considering their threat to food and nutrition security, public health, and access to higher-value markets. Future research should focus on how to best alleviate the identified constraints and harness opportunities for contributing to the country's agricultural diversification agenda not only in the groundnut value chain but also for other crops.

A large share of Malawian households faces multiple shocks which affect their welfare. There is a need to develop programs that increase household resilience against the recurring weather-related disasters and adversities such as promotion of climate smart technologies and practices. As a coping mechanism, most households resort to using own savings, while a significant number of households do nothing.  Social safety nets and farm input subsidies play a significant role in cushioning households against shocks, but the current programmes are hampered by poor targeting hence not fully benefiting the intended poor households. The government and development partners should develop better ways of targeting of the existing social safety nets and input subsidy programmes so as to benefit the deserving and intended poor households.

RESUMO

A necessidade de fortalecimento da ligação entre a investigação e a extensão (inv&ext) em Moçambique é evidente em vários documentos do setor agrário, desde a década de 1990, e há desconforto na adoção dos modelos de reforço da ligação que têm sido propostos, porque se acredita que existem mecanismos funcionais, ao nível local, que nunca foram considerados e nem estão documentados. A corrente pesquisa analisou as práticas de colaboração e comunicação entre a inv&ext agrária nas províncias de Maputo e Nampula, envolvendo uma amostra de 144 técnicos. A pesquisa revelou que existe uma comunicação frequente e regular entre a inv&ext que tem sido direta e informal. Alguns fatores ligados ao fraco financiamento das atividades de ligação, desmotivação dos técnicos para cooperar, falta de partilha de informação e conhecimentos influenciam negativamente a relação entre estes dois setores.

Palavras-Chave: geração e disseminação das tecnologias; ligação investigação e extensão; partilha de informação, Moçambique.

ABSTRACT

The need to strengthen the linkage between research and extension in Mozambique is evident in several documents of the agricultural sector, since the 1990s. However, there is a discomfort in the adoption of the proposed models for strengthening the linkage, because it is believed that there are functional mechanisms, at the local level, that have never been considered and are not documented. The current research analyzed the collaboration and communication practices between agricultural research and extension in the provinces of Maputo and Nampula, involving a sample of 144 technicians. The survey revealed that there is frequent and regular communication between research and extension, which has been direct and informal. Some factors like the weak funding of linkage activities, lack of motivation of technicians to cooperate, lack of information and knowledge sharing, negatively influence the relationship between these two sectors.

Keywords: generation and dissemination of technologies; research and extension linkage; sharing information, Mozambique.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), organized a Regional Multi-stakeholder Dialogue event on Vulnerable Farmers’ Access to Fertilizer from 4th to 6th October 2022 in Mbabane, Eswatini.

CCARDESA ICKM Strategy