Delving into possible missing links for attainment of food security in Central Malawi: farmers' perceptions and long term dynamics in maize (Zea mays L.) production.
Delving into possible missing links for attainment of food security in Central Malawi: farmers' perceptions and long term dynamics in maize (Zea mays L.) production.
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DOI：
10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07130
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发表时间：
2021-05
期刊：
影响因子：
4
通讯作者：
Nyirenda EM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Nyirenda H;Mwangomba W;Nyirenda EM
在全球范围内，玉米是主要粮食作物之一，为约46亿人提供了30%的食物卡路里。在125个发展中国家，这种作物被认为是主食，那里的大多数生产者都是小农。从20世纪60年代到现在，大多数发展中国家的玉米产量和面积有所增加，但产量仍然存在问题。知识有限、服务提供商之间联系不畅、气候变化、土地退化、投入成本是限制世界玉米生产的一些挑战。在马拉维，玉米生产一直伴随着几个挑战，如改良种子的昂贵、气候变化、土壤贫瘠和品种偏好的变化。对玉米生产的评估主要集中在短期(1-5年)，很少考虑农民的看法。这引起了人们对玉米生产动态的不同反应。在这项研究中，根据2004/05-2018/19年的生产数据和农民的看法，使用焦点小组讨论(FGD)对马拉维中部萨利马的玉米产量、面积和产量动态进行了评估。每个季节共对2400户家庭(15年为36000户)进行抽样，以估计该地区的年度玉米生产动态。来自该地区所有地理、社会和玉米生产领域的15名农民充分代表了FGD。玉米生产数据用R统计软件3.6.2版进行分析，而FGD数据用建构主义认识论进行分析。结果表明，农民对杂交玉米、自由授粉玉米和地方玉米分别使用了17个、6个和2个品种。农民从私营农业经销商那里购买杂交玉米和OPV玉米种子，而当地玉米则是自己采购的。农民更喜欢当地的玉米，因为它便宜，味道好，储存成本低，尽管产量低，但抗虫害。他们更喜欢高产和早熟的杂交玉米和OPV玉米，尽管要求较高的储存成本、病虫害易感性和低面粉。从2004/05-2018/19年，当地玉米和OPV玉米的种植面积分别减少了61%(21,619-8,331公顷)和12%(12,913-11,309公顷)，而杂交玉米的面积增加了49%(9,811-19,379公顷)。对最近五年(2014/15-2018/19)的总结显示，杂交玉米和OPV的面积持续减少，而当地玉米的面积显著增加。这可能预示着该地区玉米生产的灾难性。对未来七年(2019/20-2025/26)的进一步说明显示，到2025/26年度，所有玉米的产量预计为44,172吨，比2019/20基准年度增加1.6%。这一增长将归因于有利的气候条件，而不是面积或产量的增加。如果2019/20年玉米产量提高30%，产量将增加到110,430吨，相当于研究地区粮食需求的67%。萨利马目前的玉米生产趋势并不能保证粮食安全前景。因此，政策制定者应考虑审查过去玉米分部门的干预措施(投入定价、推广战略、可持续做法、政策)，以提高玉米生产力。建构主义认识论；地方玉米；玉米品种属性；生产预测；萨利马区(马拉维)；产量表现。
Globally, maize is one of the major cereal crops contributing 30% of food calories to about 4.6 billion people. The crop is considered staple in 125 developing countries where majority of producers are smallholder farmers. From 1960s to present, production and area for maize have increased but yield has remained questionable in most developing countries. Limited knowledge, poor linkages among service providers, climate change, land degradation, input costs are some of the challenges limiting maize production at world level. In Malawi maize production has always been associated with several challenges such as expensiveness of improved seed, climate change, unproductive soils and variations in variety preferences. Assessments on maize production has concentrated on short-term (1–5 years) and rarely consider farmer perceptions. This has caused mixed reactions on the dynamics of maize production. In this study, maize production, area and yield dynamics were assessed based on production data from 2004/05–2018/19 and farmer perceptions using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in Salima, Central Malawi. A total of 2,400 households (36,000 in 15 years) were sampled each season to estimate the annual maize production dynamics for the district. The FGD was adequately represented by 15 farmers from all the geographical, social and maize production realms of the district. The maize production data was analysed in R Statistical Software Version 3.6.2 while that of FGD by Constructivism epistemology. The results showed that farmers used 17, six and two varieties for hybrid, Open-pollinated varieties (OPV) and local maize respectively. Farmers sourced hybrid and OPV maize seed from Private Agro dealers while local maize was own-sourced. Farmers preferred local maize for being cheap, good taste, low storage costs, and pest resistance although low yielding. They preferred hybrid and OPV maize for high yielding and early maturing despite demanding high storage costs, pest susceptibility, and low flour. From 2004/05–2018/19, the area under local and OPV maize reduced by 61% (21,619–8,331 ha) and 12% (12,913–11,309 ha) respectively, while that of hybrid maize increased by 49% (9,811–19,379 ha). A synthesis of the recent five years (2014/15–2018/19) showed a consistent decrease in area for hybrid and OPV and a significant increase of that of local maize. This may signal a catastrophic maize production in the region. Further elucidation for the next seven years (2019/20–2025/26), showed that the production of all maize was projected at 44,172 tons by 2025/26, representing a 1.6% increase from the base year 2019/20. This increase will be due to favorable climatic conditions and not increase in area or yield. If maize yield were improved by 30% in 2019/20, production would increase to 110,430 tons representing 67% of the food requirement in the study area. The current maize production trend in Salima does not guarantee food security prospects. Therefore, policymakers should consider reviewing the past interventions (input pricing, promotion strategies, sustainable practices, policies) in the maize subsector to enhance maize productivity. Constructivism epistemology; Local maize; Maize variety attributes; Production projection; Salima district (Malawi); Yield performance.
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影响因子：
9.8
作者：
Denning, Glenn;Kabambe, Patrick;Sanchez, Pedro;Malik, Alia;Flor, Rafael;Harawa, Rebbie;Nkhoma, Phelire;Zamba, Colleen;Banda, Clement;Magombo, Chrispin;Keating, Michael;Wangila, Justine;Sachs, Jeffrey
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Sachs, Jeffrey
影响因子：
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作者：
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影响因子：
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作者：
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通讯作者：
Witt, A.
影响因子：
3.4
作者：
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通讯作者：
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影响因子：
4.8
作者：
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通讯作者：
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