Household Survey on the Compost Use and its Constraints in Smallholder Farming of Malawi Northern Region

Abstract

The household survey was conducted in the four northern districts of Malawi, Mzimba North (N), Mzimba South (S), Nkhatabay, and Rumphi in July 2012. Totally 432 households (9 villages, 148 households in Mzimba N, 7 villages, 123 households in Mzimba S, 5 villages, 85 households in Nkhatabay, 4 villages, 76 households in Rumphi) were studied with the aim of clarifying current status regarding land management practices and at identifying reasons refraining farmers from proactive use of compost. 47% of income comes from agriculture in smallholder farmers. Farmers are forced to engage in off-farm works to sustain the livelihood such as sales business, working abroad and migrant work within the country. This result indicates a necessity to make agriculture activity in the study region more sustainable and productive. Among land management practices, soil fertilization highly relied on the use of chemical fertilizer. Compost use was still limited among farmers. Only 30% of farmers applied to a half of the crop land. Effects of compost were recognized as 21% of farmers experienced an increase of yield by compost application. However, 26% of farmers just burn crop residue without any utilization. Compost material collection and transportation were two main obstacles in compost application as expressed by the equation; Application of compost = 0.41 x compost material collection + 0.33 x compost transportation - 0.14 (r2=0.39, p<0.05). These would be solved to some extent if compost making is jointly done by farmer group since it plays a great role in rural activity in Malawi. Material availability for compost making was different among the districts so that strategy to promote compost application shall be planned according to the regional condition.