Your search found 76 records
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045536)
(0.22 MB) (226KB)
The purposes of this research were to measure the profit efficiency of sample Irish potato farms and subsequently to explore determinants of profit inefficiency in the Dedza district of Malawi. Flexible Stochastic Profit Frontier Analysis was used to measure profit efficiency. Farmers from 200 randomly selected farmers were interviewed for plot level data. Research results revealed that the average profit of Irish potato farmers in Dedza could increase by 26% under prevailing technology. The profit efficiency of the sample Irish potato farms ranged from 0.31 to 0.99 (0.74 average). Policy variables like non-farm employment, education, extension visits, credit status, farm Experience, degree of specialization, and frequency of weeding negatively affected profit inefficiency. Conversely, age affected profit inefficiency positively.
2 Matchaya, Greenwell; Chilonda, Pius. 2012. Estimating effects of constraints on food security in Malawi: policy lessons from regressions quantiles. Applied Econometrics and International Development, 12(2):165-191.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045551)
(0.20 MB)
This paper examines food insecurity in Malawi. Conceiving food security as tridimensional, it is shown using Quantile, logistic, and OLS regressions that food security in Malawi is a function of both supply and demand factors. Specifically, food security as proxied by dietary diversity, reported food security, and food end time is a function of farm level production as proxied by farm level incomes. It is also a function of credit accessed, age and sex of a household head, while access to the markets, extension information, radio ownership, assets such as housing and adoption of a cash crop (tobacco). Education and consumer worker ratio are also important signifying the role that knowledge and labour play in deciding household level food security. The results also show that the impact of the regressors on food security depends on the level of food security in question such that in general factors with a positive effect on food security have a greater impact on food insecure households than on households that are better off. Given the preponderance of evidence in this paper it appears that policies that seek to enhance market access, improve market opportunities, enhance extension services, enhance informal education, encourage cash cropping, and support household level consolidation of assets would be useful for enhancing household level food security.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045829)
(0.40 MB) (410.46KB)
This paper examines the impact of government sectoral expenditure on economic growth in Malawi. Using time series data from 1980 to 2007, cointegration analysis in the context of an error correction model was employed to estimate the growth effects of government expenditures in agriculture, education, health, defence, social protection and transport and communication. The short run results showed no significant relationship between government sectoral expenditure and economic growth. The long run results showed a significant positive effect on economic growth of expenditure on agriculture and defence. The expenditures on education, health, social protection and transportation and communication were negatively related to economic growth. To boost economic growth efficient management of resources allocated to all sectors should be emphasized.
4 Assa, M. M.; Edriss, A-K.; Matchaya, Greenwell. 2013. Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and cross-price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza District, Malawi. International Journal of Economic Sciences and Applied Research, 6(1):59-73.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045993)
(0.25 MB) (258.95KB)
Malawi has experienced a forward shift in its demand for Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) consumption. Given limited resources at farmers’ disposal, meeting the growing demand will require farmers to follow the efficient path of the farm production resources. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to measure the cost efficiency of smallholder Irish potato farmers in Dedza district of Malawi using a translog cost function, inefficiency effect model and input elasticities derived from a system of cost share equations estimated by Iterated Seeming Unrelated Regression method. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 200 Irish potato farmers in Dedza in 2011 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained. Results indicate that the mean cost efficiency of Irish potato production in Dedza District is 0.67 with scores ranging between 0.15 and 0.94. The cost efficiency differences are significantly explained by non-farm employment, education, credit access, farm experience, degree of specialization, household size and frequency of weeding. The highest input substitution existed between labour and fertilizer, followed by seed-fertilizer. One policy issue is raised; credit should be extended to Irish potato farmers to enable them purchase farm inputs.
5 Lautze, Jonathan; Cai, Xueliang; Matchaya, Greenwell. 2014. Water productivity. In Lautze, Jonathan (Ed.). Key concepts in water resource management: a review and critical evaluation. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. pp.57-73. (Earthscan Water Text)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 333.91 G000 LAU, e-copy SF Record No: H046519)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046682)
(2.44 MB) (2.44 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046733)
(2.12 MB) (2.12 MB)
This paper charts the performance of the agriculture sector in Malawi for the period 2000 – 2013 (with particular attention paid to the last three to four years of the said period). In the quest to attain this aim the paper empirically focuses on the significance of mapping the performance of the sector in the form of trends against the baseline sectoral performance targets enlisted in the ASWAP, CAADP Framework and SADC RISDP. The consistent and concerted efforts by the Government of Malawi and development partners to meet the ASWAP, CAADP framework and SADC RISDP targets have resulted in the country making commendable economic growth and poverty alleviation. The country has been able to attain the 6% agricultural growth target despite the questionable quality of public expenditure. It is also interesting to note that changes in the agriculture sector appear to have had influence on incomes, poverty and malnourishment. The trend analysis led to the following findings; the growth in agricultural GDP and the annual GDP growth of the country surpassed the CAADP target of 6% annual growth and this culminated to an increase in production (cereal and livestock production) and productivity (land productivity) despite the fact that the country has not met the irrigation and fertiliser used targets. This increase in production and productivity may be earnestly attributed substantially public invested in the agriculture sector to meet the CAADP 10% target of the total budget to agriculture. However, this increase in agricultural GDP annual growth has not had a significant bearing on the country’s battle to offset poverty; the country’s GHI is still serious and the proportion of the population below the minimum dietary energy consumption is still high (23% on average) whilst the MDG I target stands at 20%. The major deduction from these findings is that there is a need for more concerted efforts in Malawi to refine agricultural growth investments; this can be carried out efficiently by developing a National Agriculture Plan (NAP) which will be a single policy tool that will guide investment and implementation of priorities in the sector.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046734)
(1.03 MB) (1 MB)
This paper sets out to analyses and present trends in investments in agriculture in the SADC region. In pursuing this goal the paper empirically highlights the importance of disaggregating expenditure data when examining its links to measures of productivity and poverty. This is important because not all types of expenditure have the potential to positively impact on productivity and poverty. In order to pursue the goals set out in this paper, analysis focused mainly on data on agricultural public expenditure for Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Trend analysis leads to the following main findings: Various countries have tended to invest in their agricultural sectors differently across time, but investments have been limited and volatile, while the quality of spending has also gone down. There is also public agricultural expenditure bias towards crops at the expense of other sectors. The major implication is that there is need for more concerted efforts in the SADC to ensure more and better-targeted agricultural growth enhancing investments.
9 Chilonda, Pius; Matchaya, Greenwell; Chiwaula, L.; Kambewa, P.; Musaba, Emmanuel; Manyamba, C. 2013. Agricultural growth trends and outlook for southern Africa: enhancing regional food security through increased agricultural productivity. Washington, DC, USA: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Pretoria, South Africa: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 72p. (ReSAKSS-SA Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2011)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046770)
(2.54 MB) (2.54 MB)
10 Matchaya, Greenwell; Chilonda, Pius; Nhlengethwa, Sibusiso. 2013. Agricultural growth trends and outlook for southern Africa: inter-temporal trends and patterns in agricultural investment spending in southern Africa. Washington, DC, USA: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Pretoria, South Africa: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 100p. (ReSAKSS-SA Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2012)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046771)
(1.25 MB) (1.25 MB)
11 Musaba, Emmanuel; Pali-Shikhulu, J.; Matchaya, Greenwell; Chilonda, Pius; Nhlengethwa, Sibusiso. 2014. Monitoring agriculture sector performance in Swaziland: investment, growth and poverty trends, 2000-2011. Washington, DC, USA: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Pretoria, South Africa: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 72p. (ReSAKSS-SA Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2012)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046782)
(3.42 MB) (3.42 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047484)
(1.00 MB)
13 Tembo, S.; Matchaya, Greenwell; Nhemachena, Charles; Nhelengethwa, Sibusiso. 2015. Advancing mutual accountability through comprehensive, inclusive, and technically robust review and dialogue and establishing partnerships and mechanisms for joint sector planning, monitoring and evaluation: joint sector review, agriculture. Zambia. Lusaka , Zambia: Ministry of Agriculture. 86p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047485)
(1.06 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047598)
(358.81 KB)
Reliance on rainfall for agriculture and increased climate change and variability pose growing production risks in developing countries. Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by smallholder farmers who depend mainly on rain-fed agriculture, putting food security at both household and national levels at risk, especially in the event of drought. Investment in smallholder irrigation becomes a priority in developing countries if food security and national development goals are to be met, as their economies are agro-based. This study evaluates the impact of investment in smallholder irrigation schemes in Malawi on improving crop production and productivity in comparison with rain-fed agriculture. The area under smallholder irrigation schemes increased from 15 988 ha in 2003 to about 42 986 ha in 2011, contributing immensely to national food production. Irrigated maize production increased from 78 159 tons in 2000 to 544 378 tons in 2013.
15 Matchaya, Greenwell; Nhlengethwa, Sibusiso; Nhemachena, Charles. 2016. Agricultural growth trends and outlook for Southern Africa: promoting agricultural trade to enhance resilience in Southern Africa. Washington, DC, USA: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 84p. (ReSAKSS-SA Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2013)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047998)
(2.64 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048000)
17 Nhemachena, Charles; Matchaya, Greenwell; Nhlengethwa, Sibusiso; Nhemachena, C. R. 2016. Economic aspects of genetic resources in addressing agricultural productivity in the context of climate change. In Lal, R.; Kraybill, D.; Hansen, D. O.; Singh, B. R.; Mosogoya, T.; Eik, L. O. (Eds.). Climate change and multi-dimensional sustainability in African agriculture: climate change and sustainability in agriculture. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. pp.171-183.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048001)
The main objective of this paper is to discuss the economic aspects of genetic resources in addressing agricultural productivity in the context of climate change and variability in Africa. The paper synthesizes the published literature related to this topic, which has not been well integrated, especially with respect to economic improvements and the use of genetic resources in Africa. The focus is to understand the nexus between climate change, genetic resources, and agricultural productivity; the economic aspects involved in the conservation and improvement of genetic resources at farm-level use; and the adoption of these technologies to address agricultural productivity. The results show that climate change affects both genetic resources and agricultural productivity. The interaction of climate change and other stressors exacerbates the vulnerability of agricultural production systems and genetic resources. The conservation and improvement of genetic resources should address the urgent need to increase investments in conservation and the development of future adapted technologies. At the farm level, the focus should be on developing distribution and dissemination systems, including raising awareness and educating farmers on the role of genetic resource technologies in addressing agricultural productivity under climate change. Furthermore, it is critical to ensure that farmers have the means to purchase the improved genetic resource technologies to be able to use and adopt them. Efforts to conserve, improve, and promote the use of genetic resource technologies in addressing agricultural productivity should integrate the distribution, accessibility, and use of the improved technologies at the farm level and be integrated in broader adaptation and development efforts.
18 Makombe, T.; Tefera, W.; Matchaya, Greenwell; Benin, S. 2017. Tracking key CAADP [Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme] indicators and implementation processes. In De Pinto, A.; Ulimwengu, J. M. (Eds.). A thriving agricultural sector in a changing climate: meeting Malabo declaration goals through climate-smart agriculture. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) pp.147-157. ( ReSAKSS Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2016)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048453)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048610)
(190 KB)
We critically assessed experiences in the implementation of agricultural joint sector reviews in supporting mutual accountability in Southern Africa, focusing on the lessons learned, the challenges and recommendations for improvement. Empirical data were gathered from four countries that have implemented joint sector reviews: Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. The results show that recent efforts to conduct joint sector review assessments in these countries have raised the quest for increased accountability for action and results. Despite progress to strengthen mutual accountability in the countries, monitoring and evaluation capacity remains a concern, especially at sub-national levels. The mutual accountability process and implementation of the agricultural joint sector review processes in the respective countries have come a long way in facilitating sector-wide engagement of stakeholders in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policies and programmes. These processes are critical to ensure effective implementation and realisation of development impacts of agricultural priorities in the national agricultural investment plans.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048613)
(2.02 MB)
Sustainable development has become the main focus of the global development agenda as presented in the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, for countries to assess progress, they need to have reliable baseline indicators. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to develop a composite baseline index of the agriculture-related SDGs in Southern Africa to guide progress reporting. The paper identified eight of the SDG indicators related to the agriculture sector. The paper relies on data for indicators from five SDGs (SDGs 1, 2, 6, 7 and 15). Applying the arithmetic mean method of aggregation, an agriculture-related SDG composite index for Southern Africa between zero (0 = poor performance) and 100 (best possible performance) was computed for thirteen countries that had data on all identified indicators. The results show that the best performing countries (Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa) in the assessment recorded high scores in SDGs 1, 2 and 7. The three countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Madagascar) that performed poorly on both SDG 1 and 2 also had the least scores on the overall agriculture-related SDG composite index. The water stress indicator for SDG 6 recorded the worst performance among most countries in the region. Possible approaches to improve the contribution of agriculture to SDGs may include investing more resources in priority areas for each agriculture-related SDG depending on baseline country conditions. The implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional and continental commitments in the agriculture sector and the SDGs are critical for achievement of the targets at the national and local levels. While the methods employed are well-grounded in literature, data unavailability for some of the SDGs in some countries presented a limitation to the study, and future efforts should focus on collecting data for the other SDGs in order to permit a wider application.
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