Sustainable agricultural intensification is an urgent challenge for Sub‐Saharan Africa. One potential solution is to rely on local farmers' knowledge for improved management of diverse on‐farm resources and integration among various farm enterprises. In this article, we analyze the farm‐level impact of one recent example, namely the integrated aquaculture–agriculture (IAA) technologies that have been developed and disseminated in a participatory manner in Malawi. Based on a 2004 survey of 315 respondents (166 adopters and 149 nonadopters), we test the hypothesis that adoption of IAA is associated with improved farm productivity and more efficient use of resources. Estimating a technical inefficiency function shows that IAA farms were significantly more efficient compared to nonadopters. IAA farms also had higher total factor productivity, higher farm income per hectare, and higher returns to family labor.

Journal articleIFPRI3DSGDP

This chapter presents an ex post impact assessment of the development and dissemination of small-scale integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) technologies in Malawi over more than 15 years by the WorldFish Centre and its national and international partners. The results indicate that the adoption of IAA technology in Malawi has improved total farm productivity by 10%, increased per hectare farm income by 134% and total farm income by 61%, and improved the technical efficiency of farming by almost 40%. In addition, the increased per capita consumption of fresh fish by about 208% and per capita consumption of dried fish by about 21% have resulted in an enhanced consumption of protein-rich foods. IAA has improved the sustainability and environment of the adopters' farms, reduced nitrogen loss by half and improved nitrogen use efficiency. The development and dissemination of IAA technologies in Malawi have also institutionalized the natural resource management approach within the Malawi Department of Fisheries, strengthened local institutions and improved the overall welfare of both producers and consumers. The internal rate of return from research and dissemination of IAA technologies in Malawi is at least 12.2%. This estimated rate of return is a very conservative estimate and does not include many of the positive non-market benefits of IAA technology such as impact on ecosystem health and local institutions.

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Abstract:The Elephant Marsh, a wetland in Southern Malawi, is important for fishing, agriculture, hunting and the collection of natural resources for the livelihoods of local communities. However, there has been increasing pressure driven by a changing climate, population growth, rural poverty and agricultural conversion, all of which threaten the future of the wetland. Currently, Malawi does not have either a national wetland policy or a climate change policy and wetland issues are only marginally present in the National Parks and Wildlife Policy of 2000 and National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy of 2001. As a result, the country lacks a framework that could be strong enough to achieve balanced and sustainable wetland management for multiple resource users. The objective of this study was to establish the development potentials of Elephant Marsh from an ecosystem-based ('working-with-nature') perspective. It was revealed that there are development potentials in fisheries, recession agriculture, biomass for energy, conservation and tourism. This paper emphasizes that as these opportunities are developed, there will be the need to strengthen management institutions at local and national levels, and the coordination between the two. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2012, 4 3327