RICE FARMING AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN UPPER AREAS OF MALAWI: A CASE OF KAFULU EPA IN DOWA

Malawi a landlocked country in South Easter Africa has got different land attributes; highlands and extensive lakes with wide range of soils. To the east is Lake Malawi accounts for more than 1/5 of the country's total areas providing opportunities to Lakeshore areas to produce a lot of rice. Here in Malawi Rice is mostly produced in Lakeshore areas (Salima, Nkhotakota, Nkhataby, Karonga and Bwanje in Dedza), Lower shire areas (Chikwawa and Nsanje), Along lake Chilwa (Machinga, Zomba and Mangochi), Mchinji and Mzimba.

Figure 1. Growing rice at Kafulu EPA 

Although all these districts produce rice, productivity does not meet the expected yields as national average yields is 1.2 Mt/ha against potentials of >5 tons per ha with good management, according to rice report for Malawi from the Department of Crop Development and Ministry of Agriculture. Rice being source of carbohydrates it is second staple food crop to Maize for the country it was commonly consumed in the past only in urban population, ceremonies like; wedding and chief installation and during festival like Christmas and New year.

With increase in population, crop and food diversification, current consumption has increased with new generation consuming more as compared to old generation. Since demand is now high for both local consumption and export, now Smallholder farmers in most districts are practicing rice farming as much as there is presence of wetlands. For example, in Dowa west, Kafulu EPA number of Smallholder farmers' grow rice for home and commercial purposes.

Rice farming in this EPA has enabled food security in such a way that, it is used as a second staple food among them and an important part of the local diet. Following the climate change we are facing nowadays such as drought and floods has led to low productivity and low yields of major staple food of maize, this has pushed Smallholder holder farmers in Kafulu EPA to utilize wetland in their area for rice production. Speaking to one lead farmer he says "I and my colleagues after we observed that our neighboring districts of Kasungu and Lilongwe are doing rice in available wetlands they have, we made a suggestion to venture into the same by also encouraging my fellow farmers and as of now number of them and I myself and have realized it's importance as we are using it as source of food."

Another importance is Diversification of Cropping Systems: the fact that Rice is used in place of maize, rice farming has helped to diversify the agricultural activities of smallholder farmers in this EPA, who often also grow other crops like maize, beans, and vegetables. This crop diversification has helped to spread the risk and improve the resilience of the farming systems.

He added with other benefits they are obtaining from the same such as, Income Generation and Utilization of wetlands. On income generation he said that, Rice farming has also provided them as farmers an important source of income for smallholder farmers, who can sell the surplus rice in local markets or to buyers. This income helps support the livelihoods of these farmers and their families. Dowa district specifically in Kafulu EPA, have significant wetland resources that are well-suited for rice production. Smallholder farmers are able to take advantage of these wetlands to cultivate rice, which contributes to the efficient use of available land resources.

Figure 2. Some of the wetlands area that can be used for rice farming 

Figure 3. Rice harvesting at Mchemera village in Kafulu EPA 

Despite being important farming practice, these farmers are facing a lot of limiting factors one of them is; Limited access to improved rice seeds: Farmers in these areas often have limited access to high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-adaptable rice seed varieties. This is due to the lack of efficient seed distribution networks and limited availability of certified seed suppliers in the region. The limited access to improved seeds restricts farmers' ability to increase their rice yields and improve the quality of their produce, hindering their overall rice production potential.

Another limiting factor is Cost of inorganic fertilizer. Inorganic fertilizers are essential for enhancing soil fertility and boosting rice yields, but they are often too expensive for smallholder farmers in these districts. The high cost of fertilizers is exacerbated by factors such as limited local production, high transportation costs, and fluctuations in global market prices, making it difficult for farmers to afford and apply the necessary amounts to their rice fields. This results in suboptimal nutrient management, leading to lower rice yields and reduced overall productivity.

Climate change is also another factor limiting productivity of rice farming in Kafulu EPA. The upper areas of Malawi with Dowa inclusive experience climate issues like Droughts, nowadays we are experiencing prolonged dry spells which severely limit water availability for rice cultivation, leading to reduced yields or complete crop failure.

Figure 4. Maize (major staple food) affected by drougt which also affect rice farming. 

Last limiting factor is, Limited access to market information. Farmers in the upper areas of Malawi often face challenges in accessing up-to-date and reliable information about rice market prices, demand, and trends this mostly due to inability to access and utilize ICTs. Without this crucial information, farmers are struggling to make informed decisions about when and where to sell their rice, potentially leading to lower prices and reduced income. The lack of market information also hinders farmers' ability to plan their production effectively, as they are not knowing the optimal times to sell their rice or the potential market opportunities available to them. This limitation in market information prevent farmers from maximizing their returns on their rice production efforts, further impacting their overall economic well-being. 

So, Ministry of Agriculture should undergo different interventions to reduce these problems such as ensuring that there is access to high-quality, improved rice seeds by establishing or expanding local seed production and distribution networks to make certified, high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-adaptable rice seeds more readily available to farmers. And should also partner with agricultural research institutions to develop and introduce new rice varieties that are well-suited to the local climate and growing conditions. Provide targeted subsidies or financing mechanisms to help smallholder farmers purchase the necessary amounts of fertilizers. If not so, promote the use of organic fertilizers, such as compost or manure, to complement inorganic inputs and improve overall soil health and fertility. Invest in irrigation infrastructure to ensure a reliable water supply for rice cultivation, especially during periods of drought or prolonged dry spells. Promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, such as water-efficient irrigation methods, drought-tolerant rice varieties, and soil and water conservation techniques and strengthen early warning systems and provide farmers with timely information about weather patterns and climate-related risks to help them make informed decisions. And Improve access to market information and opportunities in partnership with MACRA by introducing training and access to digital technologies, such as mobile apps or SMS-based platforms and presence of ICT infrastructures, to disseminate market information directly to farmers. In addition, they should also facilitate the formation of farmer cooperatives or associations to help farmers collectively market their rice and negotiate better prices.

By addressing these key limiting factors through a combination of policy, infrastructure, and capacity-building interventions, the rice production potential in the Kafulu EPA region and Malawi at large will be significantly improved, leading to increased yields, improved farmer incomes, and enhanced food security.