What drives Adoption of Biofuel (Jatropha Curcas) Production in Central Eastern Malawi?

There is increased interest in production of Jatropha Curcas as a biodiesel feedstock by both local and international companies. The increased interest is due to problems associated with major energy sources such as diesel and petro and their availability. This study aims at providing an understanding of the socioeconomic factors that influence farmers’ adoption of Jatropha Curcas production as a biofuel technology. The study uses data from 70 Jatropha Curcas farmers in Salima district in Malawi. The results indicated that positive and significant determinants of adoption of Jatropha Curcas production by small scale farmers are gender of the household head, plot size and education level of the household head. Based on extent of adoption, the results show that plot size and education level of the household head are the only significant factors that explain the extent of adoption while marriage status negatively influenced extentof adoption. The study recommends that if Malawi government would like to promote the cultivation of Jatropha crop on commercial basis, consideration for land allocated to Jatropha should be a priority. Promotion may be suitable for large commercial farmers who have lots of land. Keywords: Jatropha Curcas production, adoption, Malaw

Wesakombe

The leader was a Lambya but the rest of his friends were Henga. The song was sung in the Lambya dialect of Tumbuka. The foreign influence of school music is clearly discerned in this song which no doubt had a folk origin but is now distorted by extraneous harmony. A simple European style of clapping. Chikweta dance for boys and girls with clappin

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO INCORPORATE BIOFUEL CROPS INTO CROPPING SYSTEMS IN MALAWI

Using cross-sectional data, this study analysed the critical and significant socioeconomic factors with high likelihood to determine smallholder farmers’ decision and willingness to adopt jatropha into cropping systems in Malawi. Employing desk study and multi-stage random sampling technique a sample of 592 households was drawn from across the country for analysis. A probit model was used for the analysis of determinants of jatropha adoption by smallholder farmers. Empirical findings show that education, access to loan, bicycle ownership and farmers’ expectation of raising socioeconomic status are major significant factors that would positively determine probability of smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt jatropha as a biofuel crop on the farm. Furthermore, keeping of ruminant herds of livestock, long distance to market and fears of market unavailability have been revealed to have significant negative influence on farmers’ decision and willingness to adopt jatropha. Policy implications for sustainable crop diversification drive are drawn and discussed

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ WILLINGNESS TO INCORPORATE BIOFUEL CROPS INTO CROPPING SYSTEMS IN MALAWI

Using cross-sectional data, this study analysed the critical and significant socioeconomic factors with high likelihood to determine smallholder farmers’ decision and willingness to adopt jatropha into cropping systems in Malawi. Employing desk study and multi-stage random sampling technique a sample of 592 households was drawn from across the country for analysis. A probit model was used for the analysis of determinants of jatropha adoption by smallholder farmers. Empirical findings show that education, access to loan, bicycle ownership and farmers’ expectation of raising socioeconomic status are major significant factors that would positively determine probability of smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt jatropha as a biofuel crop on the farm. Furthermore, keeping of ruminant herds of livestock, long distance to market and fears of market unavailability have been revealed to have significant negative influence on farmers’ decision and willingness to adopt jatropha. Policy implications for sustainable crop diversification drive are drawn and discussed

A cross-region study: climate change adaptation in Malawi's agro-based systems

Agriculture in Malawi is vulnerable to the impacts of changing climate. Adaptation is identified as one of the options to abate the negative impacts of the changing climate. This study analyzed the factors influencing different climate change adaptation choices by smallholder farmers in Malawi. We sampled 900 farmers from all three regions of Malawi, using the multistage sampling procedure, study piloted in 2012. We analyzed smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation choices with Multinomial logit regression. Factors that enhance or hinder choice of climate adaptation options include age, gender, household size, land ownership, credit access, climate change training and extension visit. Policy thrust should focus on linking farmers to credit institutions, advocating for labour saving farm technologies and intensification of climate change trainings among smallholder farmers

Cost efficiency, Morishima, Allen-Uzawa and Cross-Price elasticities among Irish potato farmers in Dedza district, Malawi

Malawi has experienced a forward shift in its demand for Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) consumption. Given limited resources at farmers’ disposal, meeting the growing demand will require farmers to follow the efficient path of the farm production resources. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to measure the cost efficiency of smallholder Irish potato farmers in Dedza district of Malawi using a translog cost function, inefficiency effect model and input elasticities derived from a system of cost share equations estimated by Iterated Seeming Unrelated Regression method. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 200 Irish potato farmers in Dedza in 2011 from whom input-output data and their prices were obtained. Results indicate that the mean cost efficiency of Irish potato production in Dedza District is 0.67 with scores ranging between 0.15 and 0.94. The cost efficiency differences are significantly explained by non-farm employment, education, credit access, farm experience, degree of specialization, household size and frequency of weeding. The highest input substitution existed between labour and fertilizer, followed by seed-fertilizer. One policy issue is raised; credit should be extended to Irish potato farmers to enable them purchase farm inputs

A Ricardian analysis of the economic impacts of climate change on agricultural production in the low-income agrarian economy: Estimates from Malawi's 2010–2019 LSMS longitudinal data

Quantifying the economic impacts of extreme climate scenarios on agriculture at a country level is important, informing the formulation of tailored adaptation policies and sustainable livelihoods. This study examined the current and potential economic impacts of climate change on Malawi's agriculture using Ricardian analysis based on a four-year World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) panel data from 1,246 farming households. The marginal impact analysis was conducted for temperature and rainfall. The study then predicted the impact of climate scenarios on net revenue up to the year 2099. The results revealed that more warming will negatively affect agriculture returns on the one hand, while more precipitation will generate gains on the other hand. An ensemble of Global Circulation Models' simulation affirms that impacts from global warming will be more important than those from precipitation change. The impacts are non-neutral to production efficiency with technically efficient farmers having moderate impacts in magnitude relative to inefficient farmers. With strategic climate adaptation choices, results show the potential to abate some of the damages and enhance positive gains from future climate change

Fadrozole HCL (CGS-16949A) versus megestrol acetate treatment of postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast carcinoma: results of two randomized double blind controlled multiinstitutional trials

Breast cancer patients with prior response to endocrine therapy achieve subsequent benefit from additional endocrine therapies. The efficacy and safety of an aromatase inhibitor, fadrozole HCL, were compared with megestrol acetate in post menopausal patients who had disease progression after receiving antiestrogen therapy either for metastatic disease or as adjuvant therapy. In 2 multiinstitutional prospective trials, 683 postmenopausal patients were randomized to receive either fadrozole HCL, 1 mg twice daily, or megestrol acetate, 40 mg 4 times daily, in a double blind fashion after progression on first-line hormonal therapy. Objective response rates, time to progression, survival and safety of the two regimens were compared. Results of intent-to-treat analyses are presented in this study. No significant differences were detected between the two treatment groups in time to progression, objective response rates, duration of response, and survival in either trial. There were no clinically meaningful differences between the treatment groups in the incidence and severity of adverse experiences, except that weight gain, fluid retention, and dyspnea were observed in more patients in the megestrol acetate group compared with those receiving fadrozole HCL, whereas nausea and vomiting were observed in more patients in the fadrozole HCL group compared with those receiving megestrol acetate. Fadrozole HCL was as efficacious as megestrol acetate in postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast carcinoma after one hormonal therapy. Adverse experiences were mild with both therapies, but megestrol acetate was associated wiht a higher frequency of weight gain, fluid retention and dyspnea, whereas fadrozole HCL was associated with a higher frequency of nausea and vomiting

A Food Demand System Estimation for Rural Malawi: Estimates Using Third Integrated Household Survey Data

In contrast to the myriad of empirical work on food demand in other countries, very few studies have considered zero expenditures on some food groups. Those which have attempted have been based on techniques which result in endogeneity and inefficient estimates which in turn may misinform policy calibration. Improving on methodological flaw of previous studies, the present study censors zero expenditures in the first stage using simulation based maximum likelihood multivariate probit. In the second stage, Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System which allows for a more realistic assumption of curvature in Engels curve is estimated. In turn, food expenditure and price elasticities are derived. In view of the high expenditure elasticities, considering a policy option that would enhance rural consumer income is desirable, since it will result in high consumption thereby providing more incentives for food production