Smart subsidies for catchment conservation in Malawi

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is a management paradigm in which soil is covered outside of cropping seasons, minimally disturbed, and recharged with nitrogen-fixing legumes. Finding effective ways to encourage CA is a centuries-old problem playing out acutely today in Sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand this issue, we have collected data on rural livelihoods and CA adoption during a two-year intervention in southern Malawi. The intervention evaluated rates of CA adoption under two different structures of payment and three levels of monitoring. The dataset includes a baseline and endline survey covering 1,900 households, along with surveys conducted with participants opting into the intervention. Baseline and endline questions included modules on farm-level inputs and production at the plot-crop level; plot characteristics; household composition and assets; savings, loans, and other sources of income; neighborhood characteristics; and perceptions regarding CA. Registration questionnaires in the intervention included detailed assessments of recent production in plots being registered to the intervention, and basic information for all other plots; and basic information on household structure and assets.

The Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on the Nkula Dam in the Middle Shire River Catchment, Malawi

“…The Shire River in Malawi, southern Africa, is among the areas where land use land cover change (LUCC) has become more prevalent in recent years resulting into severe soil erosion and causing heavy siltation downstream [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. The river is an important source of livelihood to many people, using the water for agriculture, domestic purposes, and the generation of electricity [6,8,10]. One of the most important structures across the Shire River is the Nkula B Hydroelectric Power Station situated in the middle section of the river.…”

“…The dam at Nkula Falls that supplies water into the power station has, in recent times, been threatened with massive siltation, some studies attributing this to increased human population and agricultural activities [5,6,8]. The conceptual setting of this study originates from a strong link that exists between land use change and soil erosion [8,[11][12][13][14][15]. Land use and management practices are important factors in determining the extent of soil erosion [8,15].…”

“…The conceptual setting of this study originates from a strong link that exists between land use change and soil erosion [8,[11][12][13][14][15]. Land use and management practices are important factors in determining the extent of soil erosion [8,15]. Good vegetation cover promotes infiltration of water into the ground and soil retention, while deforestation results into increased runoff than infiltration occurring during periods of more precipitation [16][17][18].…”

“…Good vegetation cover promotes infiltration of water into the ground and soil retention, while deforestation results into increased runoff than infiltration occurring during periods of more precipitation [16][17][18]. Increased runoff consequently leads to stronger soil erosion usually in areas with poor vegetation cover [8,[19][20]. Erosion of soil under continuous cultivation is the most serious form of resource degradation occurring in Malawi [3,8,19,[21][22][23].…”

“…Increased runoff consequently leads to stronger soil erosion usually in areas with poor vegetation cover [8,[19][20]. Erosion of soil under continuous cultivation is the most serious form of resource degradation occurring in Malawi [3,8,19,[21][22][23]. The rate of soil loss in Malawi is currently estimated at 29 t/ha/year [24], which is higher than the previously reported 20 t/ha/year [21].…”