The maize mixed farming system: Highlights of

characteristics, trends and development priorities

Presented byMaxwell Mudhara

Beating Hunger Conference, Lilongwe, 14-17 April, 2015

Characteristics of the farming systemDefine the sub-systemsTrends and driversSystem performanceExamples of strategic interventions

This presentation is based on a chapter in the African farming systems book (Malcolm Blackie, John Dixon, Maxwell Mudhara, Paul Thangata, Joseph Rusike and Sieg Snapp)

Outline of Presentation

African (Sub-Saharan) farming systems

• Maize mixed. Maize dominates crop area. Livelihoods also depend on other crops, livestock and off-farm work.

• Integrated roles of trees, livestock, other enterprises

• Some market access in most farms.

Key characteristics of “Maize Mixed”

• 150-240 length of growing period – avg 196 gd• Market access. Medium. Av 7 hours to town.• Population. 145 m. Rural approx 100 m. Agricultural

approx 90 m. Farm households approx 17 million farm households. Extensive poverty (more than any other system), household food insecurity.

• Cultivated land 90 m ha. • Smallholders manage 90%. • More than 90% of production is rainfed agriculture.

Only 1.2 m ha irrigated. • Cattle 29 m; Small ruminants 37 m.

Key characteristics (cont)

• There are important patterns that emerge from variations of landscapes in the system– Systems -> Sub-systems

• Nine sub-systems in the maize mixed system– System differentiation– Grouping of countries (to facilitate planning)

Sub-systems of maize mixed system ...

Maize mixed sub-systems

PopulationPopulation density is moderately high Falling farm size and increasing fragmentation

Labour often short

Natural resources and climateDeclining farm sizes not viable under rainfed

conditions Fertility decline

Trends and drivers of change across the system

EnergyManual cultivation techniques mostly usedWeeding is most labour and energy intensive

operationCan reduced tillage cut the labour requirements

for crop production?

Trends and drivers of change across the system

Human and social capitalFemale dominateTop-down, extension systems largely promote

‘quick fix’ technical packages Past messages on high external input use -

often irrelevant.

Trends and drivers of change across the system

Science and technologyMost farmers use retained seedSeed supply and affordability are major constraints. Seeds exchanges take place among farmers.

Trade and marketsRising input prices and declining maize prices

Trends and drivers of change across the system

Policies and institutionsPolicy changes required for seed and fertiliser

markets to work There is need to encourage greater participation of

the private sector. The potential role of smart subsidies re: Malawi

experience.

Trends and drivers of change across the system

Half (56 per cent) of the farm population can be rated as extremely poor (daily consumption of less than US$1.25)

There is quite some variation in performance within.

System performance

ProductivityArea expansion (extensification) has underpinned

most past growth in food production. Fallow land has decreased Marginal lands are being cultivated

System performance

ResilienceSoil fertility decline is a major challengeDiversity of farm enterprises fosters ecological

resilience.

System performance

• Population – e.g., more rural non-farm jobs opportunities. • Natural resources – e.g., SLM, CA, Landcare• Energy – e.g., Natural regeneration, community woodlots

and agroforestry. Labour saving technologies • Human capital/knowledge – e.g., farm women’s knowledge• Technology and science – e.g., systems research• Markets and trade – e.g., agribusiness• Institutions and policies – e.g., cross border trade, land

tenure, pvt sector participation

Strategic interventions (Examples)

Thankyou!