DISTRICT AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT OFFICES IN

MALAWI

CHALLENGES IN INTENSIFICATION OF

AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Staffing Position

DISTRICT SECTIONS

FILLED VAC TOTAL % VAC. RATE

NTCHEU 58 49 107 46

DEDZA 114 55 169 33

RAINFALL VARIABILITY

Rainfall pattern is erratic in some parts of the districts.

On average, the mean rainfall for the districts in 2011/12 was 730 mm in 44 rainy days compared to 780 mm in 50 rainy days last year same time.

For early planted crops (mainly maize and legumes), face great damage and full recovery is almost impossible.

Rainfall cont’d

Effects of Weather (rainfall) on Crop, Livestock & Fish Development

Poor crop germination and emergence causing continued replanting/gap filling

Poor crop/pasture establishment and development Poor fertilizer utilization and very difficult to achieve

timely fertilizer application Very big differences in crop stages within or among fields Very difficult to achieve timely planting/transplanting and

herbicides application Drying up of ponds

Food Situation

• Currently, the food situation for the districts is at around 9% (farm families without own food) compared to almost 1% same time last year (fig. 2).

• Food is available in most markets.

Food Situation cont

Coping Mechanisms

Food insecure households are surviving through the following means:

Doing casual labour in exchange for food or cash Selling charcoal and firewood Sales of other commodities like mats, vegetable

and fruits Exchange pots and baskets with maize.

Production figures

Maize production has decreased by 12% from 175,000MT in 2010/11 season to 153,000MT in 2011/12 season.

dry spells, low soil fertility as a result of low input

uptake.( FISP+ other soil fertility interventions to sustain soil productivity)

CHALLENGES

Inadequate staff at field level. Erratic rainfall. Dwindling soil fertility. Inadequate financial resources to

implement field activities.

WAY FORWARD

Use of lead farmers. Use of drought tolerant interventions. Use of cropping systems that help to

increase soil fertility. Encourage harmonization of

programmes and resources to best implement agric. Activities.

ZIKOMO