Charles Masangano

Globally, governments and agricultural organizations implement policies and programs reflected in interventions such as input subsidies, extension services for modern inputs and training, which either enable or hinder agricultural diversification. A study was carried out from 2016 to 2019 in Lilongwe district, Malawi, to determine the influence of policies, programs and interventions on agricultural diversification. The study was using a mixed-method sequential explanatory design. It involved a literature review, interviews with 424 male and female smallholder farmers, 35 demonstration plots on agricultural diversification, 27 focus group discussions with farmers, and 17 key informant interviews with stakeholder representatives. The literature review showed that the 2016 Malawi agricultural policy already prioritized agricultural diversification as it included a policy statement and policy objective on agricultural diversification. This study found that stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Agriculture, Total Land Care, National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi, School of Agriculture for Family Independence, and Trustees of Agriculture Promotion Program, were promoting agricultural diversification. They did it by (i) organizing farmers into groups for agricultural diversification activities, (ii) provision of extension advice, and (iii) providing inputs for different crops as well as livestock either for free, on pass-on, or through loans. However, interventions were on small scale, had not fully addressed hindrances to agricultural diversification, were mostly supply-driven, and the interventions themselves faced sustainability-threatening problems such as failure to pass on livestock and seeds. The agricultural policy was thus not sufficiently translated into widespread programs and interventions to foster improvement in agricultural diversification. As such, we suggest re-channeling of funding from promoting mono-cropping to agricultural diversification by broadening the crop and livestock focus of advisory services, enabling farmer organization initiatives and community engagement for farmers to solve most diversification challenges on their own.

Objectives: Insufficient knowledge, skills and resources are main determinants of inadequate complementary feeding of children aged 6 to 23 months in Malawi. In addition to these, cultural beliefs and practices influence utilization of resources available within the household to make the best foods for the young children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a cascade model in the dissemination of the improved IYCF messages. Design: This study was conducted using mixed methods convergent parallel design using pre and post training tests, training observations, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and document review. Setting: Kasungu and Mzimba districts in Malawi. Subjects: Master trainers, community nutrition facilitators (CNFs) and nutrition education participants with children aged 6–18 months. Results: Knowledge scores increased significantly after training among master trainers from 34 to 37 (p < 0.05), CNFs from 14 to 24 (p < 0.001) and caregivers from 23 to 38 (p < 0.001). Caregivers retained the knowledge six months after the nutrition education. Following the knowledge scores along the training cascade, there was no association between Knowledge scores neither of master trainer and CNFs nor between CNFs and caregivers. The caregivers' results were corroborated by FGDs in which caregivers reported having gained complementary food preparation skill while grandmothers and spouses observed improved hygiene and preparation of diversified porridge for children among caregivers after nutrition education. Conclusion: The training cascade was successful in promoting the improved IYCF practices among caregivers using locally available resource.