When the Weak Win: Role of Farmer Groups in Influencing Agricultural Policy Outcome; a Case of Nkhate Irrigation Scheme in Malawi

The knowledge today recaps that’s livelihood of many African farmers are constrained by poor access to both inputs and output markets, limited entrepreneurial skills for adding value to produce and to bargain for better prices and finally limited technical skills in agricultural production. Despite a tremendous attention to salvage this through government interventions and research, there is still a big problem in addressing the smallholder farmer’s needs. Farmer organizations open up opportunities for farmers to better overcome the above mentioned constraints through lobbying and collective action. Drawing from results of Participatory diagnosis and participatory market research done in Nkhate irrigation scheme in 2007 and 2008 this paper examines the effect of effective farmer groups in influencing rice price formation. Results demonstrated that farmer groups have the potential to effectively influence policy outcomes in their favour. This was however achieved through reorganization and mobilization of farmer groups to improve lobbying efficiency and reduce the inefficiencies caused by free riding. The results indicate that from the participatory gross margin analysis which was done by CIAT ( 2007) with rice farmers at the irrigation scheme, it was revealed that farmers have been making losses in the marketing of Kirombero and Super Fire rice varieties and have been realizing a very small positive margin for Mtupatupa a local rice variety. The analysis revealed gross margins of 36.78 US$ha-1, -182.50 US$ ha-1, and 60.36 US$ha-1, for Super fire, Kirombero and Mtupatupa varieties respectively. This shows that farmers were making losses when they sold rice to traders at a price dictated to them. However, after farmers were effectively organised in a group and linked to markets, farmers realized gross margins of 681.84US$ ha-1, 664.23US$ha-1 and 1,028.69US$ ha-1 for Mtupatupa, Super fire and Kirombero rice varieties respectively. The paper further recommends that such farmer groups need to better articulate and deliver benefits to members hence ensuring that these members subscribe to the group and hence finance lobbying efforts which are often costly.Farmer groups, Profitability, input and output markets, participatory market research, lobbying, Farm Management,

ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVE MARKET LINKAGES IN PROMOTING INVESTMENTS IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE RICE-BASED FARMING SYSTEM IN MALAWI: A CASE OF NKHATE IRRIGATION SCHEME

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceThis study focuses on assessing how effective market linkages have promoted investments in natural resource management in the smallholder rice-based farming systems in Nkhate Irrigation Scheme, in the context of the Enabling Rural Livelihoods approach. As both income and investment in natural resource management is linked to the wealth status of the farmers, a participatory wealth ranking exercise was done to group farmers into resource groups. Farmers were grouped into three resource-endowment classes; high resource-endowment (RG 1), intermediate (RG 2) and resource-constrained (RG 3), on the basis of cattle ownership, use of mineral fertilizers and land ownership. The study used household data on these resource groups to address two specific objectives in influence of enhanced farmer market linkages: (i) to assess the profitability of rice (ii) to assess farmer decisions on allocation of income from rice to natural resource management. The results indicate that from the participatory gross margin analysis which was done by CIAT ( 2007) with rice farmers at the irrigation scheme, it was revealed that farmers have been making losses in the marketing of Kirombero and Super Fire rice varieties and have been realizing a very small positive margin for Mtupatupa a local rice variety. The analysis revealed gross margins of 36.78 US$ha-1, -182.50 US$ ha-1, and 60.36 US$ha-1, for Super fire, Kirombero and Mtupatupa varieties respectively. However, after farmers were effectively linked to markets, farmers realized gross margins of 681.84US$ ha-1, 664.23US$ha-1 and 1,028.69US$ ha-1 for Mtupatupa, Super fire and Kirombero rice varieties respectively. The results further showed that a lot of investment from money gotten from rice sales has gone into improving food security and the accumulation of household assets as well as improving the dwelling houses. This was regardless of farmer's wealth status

Determinants of smallholder farmers’ demand for purchased inputs in Lilongwe District, Malawi: evidence from Mitundu extension planning area

The aim of this study was to empirically determine the factors that affect smallholder farmers’ demand for purchased fertilizer and seed using cross section data from 160 farmers. Model solutions, which were created by using Translog Cost Function were carried out by Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR). To this end this study revealed that education, field size (plot of land cultivated) and household size have significant negative relationship with the share of fertilizer purchased and positively related with share of seed. Whereas price of output, seed, fertilizer and income of the household are found to be significant and positively related to share of fertilizer and negatively related with share of purchased seed.Translog, Cost, Purchase inputs, Demand

Health financing in Malawi: Evidence from National Health Accounts

BACKGROUND: National health accounts provide useful information to understand the functioning of a health financing system. This article attempts to present a profile of the health system financing in Malawi using data from NHA. It specifically attempts to document the health financing situation in the country and proposes recommendations relevant for developing a comprehensive health financing policy and strategic plan. METHODS: Data from three rounds of national health accounts covering the Financial Years 1998/1999 to 2005/2006 was used to describe the flow of funds and their uses in the health system. Analysis was performed in line with the various NHA entities and health system financing functions. RESULTS: The total health expenditure per capita increased from US$12 in 1998/1999 to US$25 in 2005/2006. In 2005/2006 public, external and private contributions to the total health expenditure were 21.6%, 60.7% and 18.2% respectively. The country had not met the Abuja of allocating at least 15% of national budget on health. The percentage of total health expenditure from households' direct out-of-pocket payments decreased from 26% in 1998/99 to 12.1% in 2005/2006. CONCLUSION: There is a need to increase government contribution to the total health expenditure to at least the levels of the Abuja Declaration of 15% of the national budget. In addition, the country urgently needs to develop and implement a prepaid health financing system within a comprehensive health financing policy and strategy with a view to assuring universal access to essential health services for all citizens

The Role of the Ombudsman in Curbing Corruption in Malawi

Corruption in Malawi is a complex and sophisticated problem with causes ranging from bureaucratic shortcomings to cultural factors and outright greed. It, therefore, goes without saying that equally sophisticated and multifaceted control mechanisms and measures are required to curb it. One possible solution is to exploit the full potential of the oversight and accountability institutions that form the governance structure. But what role can each of these institutions play in the fight against corruption?Using data from 40 questionnaires, 6 key-informant interviews and previously published works, this paper endeavours to examine the role the Office of the Ombudsman can play in curbing corruption in Malawi. The paper finds that, by promoting accountability, the Ombudsman plays an important role in the fight against corruption, albeit there is a specific institution for the purpose– the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The paper recommends clarity on mandates and cooperation, civic education and recruitment of well-qualified staff. &nbsp

Farmers Experiences with Pluralistic Extension System in Promotion of Conservation Agriculture in Chinguluwe Epa of Salima District, Malawi

Malawi’s current extension policy supports pluralism and advocates responsiveness to farmer demands. This article therefore investigates the experiences of male and female farmers in selected sections with pluralistic extension in promotion of conservation agriculture (CA). The key question addressed in this research is what changes has pluralistic extension system made in case of the farmers practicing conservation agriculture. Within a case study approach, four sections were purposively selected for in-depth qualitative analysis of available services and farmers’ experiences. Focus group discussions were held separately with male and female farmers and key informants followed by semi-structured interviews with 150 farming households. The findings have revealed that few farmers appreciate having access to a variety of sources of technical advice in conservation agriculture. However, most service providers continue to dominate and dictate what they offer such that most of the responses are not relevant to address farmers expressed needs. In addition, the study has revealed that poor coordination between service providers limits exploitation of potential synergies amongst actors. As a recommendation therefore, service providers can adapt their approach to engage farmers in discussion of their needs and work collaboratively to address them. At a system level, institutions that have a coordination function can play a more dynamic role in brokering interaction between providers and farmers to ensure coverage and responsiveness

The development of tourism and the accommodation sector in Malawi since independence

This study examines the development of tourism and the accommodation sector in Malawi since attaining independence in 1964. It analyses the factors that have influenced the evolution process of Malawi’s tourism and accommodation sector and discusses the development patterns in context with the Butler’s Theory of Destination Development Area Cycle. The study shows that Malawi tourism and accommodation sector development stages diverged from Butler’s proposed phases of destination development. The tourism and accommodation sector development process from the period Malawi obtained independence went through three stages: the Post-Colonial Development Stage, Fragmented Development and Attempted Recovery. Its divergence is primarily attributed to political changes, which in turn influenced the change in tourism policy ideologies. The other main reason for the divergence is attributed to external factors, most importantly the World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Programme which impacted upon Malawi as a poor indebted country

A health economic model: Prediction of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission intervention cost in Central Kenya.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree ofBachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science at Strathmore UniversityThe PMTCT intervention is the most successful HIV prevention measure (Plessis et al., 2014). The program is heavily funded in Kenya by donors such as PEPF AR and the Global fund, leaving the patients with only the direct non-medical costs to bear. The ongoing progressive fund cuts have left questions on sustainability of the intervention and cost shtdies can help the government make crucial financial decisions (Creese et al,.l994). A provider's perspective has been given in the government reports, what is missing is a cost analysis taking on a patient cost perspective