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The Impact of Climate Shocks on Seed Purchase Decisions in Malawi: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation

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  • Nordhagen, Stella
  • Pascual, Unai

Abstract

This paper addresses the relevance of agricultural seed systems in terms of the production and dissemination of seed in the context of adaptation to climate change. Using nationwide household level data from Malawi, we examine the hypothesis that climatic shocks increase small-scale farmers’ reliance on purchased seeds, in particular from local seed markets, an element of the informal seed sector. The results are used to discuss the role of seed systems for potentially supporting small-scale farmers’ adaptation mechanisms in the face of climate change in Malawi. This study has implications for other similar sub-Saharan African contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Nordhagen, Stella & Pascual, Unai, 2013. "The Impact of Climate Shocks on Seed Purchase Decisions in Malawi: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 238-251.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:43:y:2013:i:c:p:238-251
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.08.002
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    2. Taraz, Vis, 2018. "Can farmers adapt to higher temperatures? Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 205-219.
    3. Gawith, David & Hodge, Ian & Morgan, Fraser & Daigneault, Adam, 2020. "Climate change costs more than we think because people adapt less than we assume," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Rita Rani Chopra & Smruti Ranjan Behera, 2021. "Assessment of interstate dynamics of virtual water trade flows in primary crops production: Empirical evidence from India," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1860-1875.
    5. Shawn McGuire & Louise Sperling, 2016. "Seed systems smallholder farmers use," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(1), pages 179-195, February.
    6. Clifton Makate & Marshall Makate, 2022. "Do Rainfall Shocks Prompt Commercial Input Purchases Amongst Smallholder Farmers in Diverse Regions and Environments in Malawi?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-31, November.
    7. Adesoji Adelaja & Justin George & Louise Fox & Keith Fuglie & Thomas Jayne, 2021. "Shocks, Resilience and Structural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Mao, Hui & Sun, Zhenkai & Chai, Anyuan & Fang, Lan & Shi, Chaoqian, 2025. "Extreme Weather, agricultural insurance and farmer's climate adaptation technologies adoption in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    9. Shawn McGuire & Louise Sperling, 2016. "Seed systems smallholder farmers use," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(1), pages 179-195, February.
    10. Maganga, Assa M. & Chiwaula, Levison & Kambewa, Patrick, 2021. "Climate induced vulnerability to poverty among smallholder farmers: Evidence from Malawi," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).

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