October 30, 2024, | Lilongwe, Malawi
The national policy conference in Malawi highlights integrating soil fertility management into subsidy programs as a pathway to boosting maize productivity and addressing soil health challenges.
PEP researchers organized a national policy conference to present findings on how integrating soil fertility management interventions (SFMIs) into agricultural input subsidy programs can boost maize productivity and improve soil health in Malawi.
A recent national policy conference in Lilongwe brought together researchers, government representatives, NGOs, and agricultural stakeholders to discuss findings from the program, "Promoting Local Capacities and Demand for Impact Evaluation in East and West Africa. Funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, this initiative supports experimental impact evaluations in multiple African countries, including Malawi. The Malawi study, led by researchers such as Prof. Levison Chiwaula and Dr. Christone Nyondo , examined the impact of integrating SFMIs—such as organic fertilizers and agricultural lime—into Malawi’s Affordable Input Program (AIP).
The findings highlighted that poor soil health, a major contributor to low productivity, can be addressed through targeted soil interventions. Researchers recommended scaling up SFMIs to enhance fertilizer efficiency and maize yields, coupled with policy initiatives to provide updated soil maps and promote private soil testing services. These recommendations received robust support from conference participants, who emphasized their potential to drive sustainable agricultural growth and improve food security across Malawi.
Prof. Levison Chiwaula, Research Director at MwAPATA Institute, along with Dr. Sarah Tione from the Ministry of Agriculture, welcomed attendees. They underscored the need for innovative approaches to address declining agricultural productivity and poor soil health in Malawi.
Dr. Christone Nyondo delivered a detailed presentation on the study, which used a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of organic fertilizers, agricultural lime, and tailored extension services. He highlighted the significant productivity gains from integrating organic fertilizers into AIP, with marginal improvements observed when agricultural lime was included.
A diverse panel comprising Prof. Patson Nalivata (Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources), Mr. Ezra Funani (Funani Organic Fertilizer Manufacturing), Mr. Baxton Chinguwo (Catholic Relief Services), discussed practical challenges and opportunities for scaling up SFMIs in Malawi. Key themes included improving soil testing services and ensuring the availability of inputs like lime through a robust supply chain.
Led by Dr. Sarah Tione, the plenary session provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions and propose actionable solutions. Discussions focused on optimizing adoption strategies, promoting private soil testing services, and using farmer-led demonstration plots to encourage widespread adoption of SFMIs.
Key Takeaways and Recommendations
- Policy Recommendations
- Integrate SFMIs into AIP to enhance maize productivity and maximize returns on investments.
- Develop updated soil maps to guide the implementation of soil fertility interventions.
- Encourage the use of private soil testing services to ensure site-specific soil management.
- Cost-Effectiveness
The study revealed that integrating organic fertilizers alone is more cost-effective than combining them with lime, given current soil acidity levels. - Scaling Adoption
Demonstration plots at agricultural sections and experimental plots managed by individual farmers were found to be effective in promoting the adoption of SFMIs.
Dr. Christone Nyondo emphasized, “This research shows that integrating SFMIs into the Affordable Input Program can significantly improve maize productivity while being cost-effective. It’s time to rethink how we approach agricultural input programs in Malawi.”
Prof. Patson Nalivata added, “Scaling up soil fertility interventions requires strong partnerships between government, researchers, and private sector players to ensure availability and accessibility of inputs like lime and organic fertilizers.”
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Christone Nyondo, followed by closing remarks from Mrs. Gertrude Kambauwa , Director of Land Resources, Ministry of Agriculture. Stakeholders left with a clear roadmap for implementing soil fertility interventions to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security in Malawi.
