CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Abstract
Maize-based farming systems are the most important food production system in East and Southern Africa, stretching over 19% of the cultivated area and engaging approximately 60 million people [1]. In Malawi, maize (Zea mays L.) is the main staple crop. It represents roughly 48% of the population’s dietary energy consumption and occupies 80-85% of the total cultivated land [2]. Almost all farmers cultivate some maize. Maize areas cover all eight Agricultural Development Divisions (ADD), with Lilongwe and Kasungu containing nearly 50% of the country’s area planted to maize
