EVALUATING USE OF CROP RESIDUES FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN MZIMBA DISTRICT, MALAWI

J. TANGANYIKA, E. BANDASON, T.N. GONDWE, AND S. HOMANN-KEE TUI

10th African Crop Science Society Conference,10-13 October 2011 , Maputo

SLP project :Optimizing livelihood and environmental benefits from crop residues in smallholder crop-livestock systems in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (www.vslp.org)

Introduction • Farmers in Northern Malawi practice mixed crop livestock production.

• Livestock feed on rangelands and crop residues during dry seasons.

• Government has invested in crop production through input subsidy programme, leading to increased yields and enabling the government to export maize.

• Less support is given to the livestock sector.

• Imports of livestock products are high.

• Livestock production represents an opportunity that has not appropriately been addressed, considering the high demand for livestock products and its potential for growth.

• With more grazing land being converted into cropland it is expected that feed resources will become a major bottleneck for livestock production.

• Improved crop residue utilization not only improves livestock nutrition, but also has a potential for soil fertility and water use efficiency.

• To describe the types and utilization of crop residues available in the context of small-scale farming systems in Mzimba district

Objective of the study

Study site and methodology • Mzimba is situated about 250 km North of Lilongwe, and the project site

is 65km West of Mzuzu town.

• Mzimba is one of the districts with highest livestock production in the small-scale farming sector.

• The area has a human population density of about 60 persons km-2.

• The average annual rainfall fluctuates at around 700mm.

• 8 villages were selected, with different distance from Kafukule Trading Centre, belonging to Njuyu and Euthini Extension Planning Areas .

• Focus group discussions

• Household surveys

Results and discussion Land use system and agriculture

Mixed crop livestock farming as dominant form of land use (40% of the total area)

Estimated uses of the cultivated land :• 44% maize, 3 % other cereals, • 11% groundnuts • 10% tobacco• 22% fallow and other crops

Livestock is composed of • cattle (65%)• goats (14%),• pigs (10%) • poultry ( 6%) • donkies (2%)

Farming systems characterization : Crops

•Maize is dominant followed by groundnuts; with largest share of cropland and highest yield.

• This confirms high availability of crop residues from maize and groundnuts.

• Land sizes and crop yields are not different across wealth categories and gender.

Crop production (% households)Average yield

•Poultry production is most common, keeping ruminants is more limited.•Ownership of cattle and goats differs by wealth categories,but not by gender of household headship, indicating that

• cattle and goats are important wealth assets• female headed households have equal access to cattle and goats.

Farming systems characterization: Livestock

Functions of livestock

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Chicken Goats Cattle Pigs

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f re

spo

nse

s (n

=39

5)

Sale Consumption Manure Draft power Milk production

Livestock’ s most important function is cash income .Farmers, although they might have few animals, make broad use of livestock.

• Cash and income • role of livestock in supporting

farmer’s livelihoods• farmers do participate in livestock

markets • conducive conditions will make

farmers responding to the growing demand for livestock products

• Consumption• mainly poultry, goats and pigs • for cattle mainly milk

• Draft power and manure• appreciated but underutilized

• Maize and groundnuts are the main suppliers of crop residues• The main uses of these crop residues are:

– livestock grazing– mulching – collection and feeding to a limited extent– burning, indicating underutilization.

• Farmers thus are not aware of the value of crop residues, probably due to limited livestock extension services.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Maize Groundnuts

Prop

ortio

n of

cro

p re

sidu

es u

sed

Grazing Mulch Burnt Other Kraal feeding

Uses of crop residues

Examples of the uses of crop residues

Management decisions

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Crops Crop residues Large stock Small stock

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f h

ou

seh

old

s

Joint Male Female

• Across crops and livestock most management decisions are made jointly, by women and men.

• This indicates the important role women play as farm managers.

Conclusions

• Intensification of crop (grain) production is high through government support programmes.

• Crop residues are abundantly available from maize and groundnuts but underutilized.

• There is a potential to enhance overall farming productivity through improved use of residues for livestock feeding and soil amendment.

• Improved livestock production is an important opportunity for farmers to increase their income and benefit from the real demand for livestock products at local and national markets.

• Crop-livestock is a real alternative to tobacco production, which is losing its market value.

Recommendations • Technical interventions

• There is need to promote improved dual purpose (food and feed) maize and groundnut varieties.

• Using the existing inputs supply outlets (local retailers, government programs) can help to disseminate these varieties relatively quickly.

• Market improvement

• Infrastructure and services development for crops and livestock products • Market value of crop residues is an opportunity for farmers without

livestock to generate income.

• Policies need to integrate crop and livestock production

• Government programs on farming systems integration• Capacity strengthening for frontline staff• Extend input supply programmes to livestock production • Awareness creation on the value of crop residues

Acknowledgements

• This study is supported by the Systemwide Livestock Programme (SLP) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

• Special thanks to the farmers and agricultural extension staff in Njuyu and Euthini EPA

Thank you!!!