evaluating use of crop residues for sustainable livestock production in mzimba district, malawi
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Paper presented by Elisabeth Bandason, Bunda College, at the 10th African Crop Science Society Conference, 10-13th October 2011 in MaputoTRANSCRIPT
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!!!