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Explaining the impact of agroecology on farm-level transitions to food security in Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Sidney Madsen

    (Cornell University)

  • Rachel Bezner Kerr

    (Cornell University)

  • Noelle LaDue

    (Cornell University)

  • Isaac Luginaah

    (Western University)

  • Chipiliro Dzanja

    (Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities)

  • Laifolo Dakishoni

    (Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities)

  • Esther Lupafya

    (Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities)

  • Lizzie Shumba

    (Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities)

  • Catherine Hickey

    (Western University)

Abstract

How does agroecology influence household food security? While previous studies have found that adopting agroecological practices can have a positive effect on smallholder household food security, there is limited understanding of how this transition occurs. This mixed-methods study draws on data from an ongoing agroecology project in Malawi to engage with debates about if and how an agricultural paradigm shift can contribute to smallholder food security. Researchers interviewed 60 farmer participants of an agroecology intervention to examine the mechanisms by which recent adoption of crop diversification and soil management practices had altered household access to a stable, adequate and diverse diet. Results from mixed-effects regression analysis of a case-controlled panel survey (n = 537) corroborated respondents’ reports that participating in agroecological trainings and farmer discussion groups had increased food security. Interviews indicated that, consistent with food security pathways literature, farmers were using direct-consumption and agricultural income pathways to improve food security. Furthermore, respondents were following food security pathways based on altering their production relations so as to regain control over their farming inputs, namely seed, fertilizer, land, and labor. In addition, we found that the agroecological approaches reinforced and widened existing social support practices such as food and seed sharing, fundamental to long-term community food security. The results presented in this paper provide evidence of the effectiveness of multifaceted participatory agroecological interventions to support transitions to food security based on environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Sidney Madsen & Rachel Bezner Kerr & Noelle LaDue & Isaac Luginaah & Chipiliro Dzanja & Laifolo Dakishoni & Esther Lupafya & Lizzie Shumba & Catherine Hickey, 2021. "Explaining the impact of agroecology on farm-level transitions to food security in Malawi," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 933-954, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:13:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-021-01165-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-021-01165-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Sidney Madsen, 2022. "Farm-level pathways to food security: beyond missing markets and irrational peasants," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(1), pages 135-150, March.
    2. Viviana Meixner Vásquez & Regine Andersen, 2023. "Community seed banks: Instruments for food security or unsustainable endeavour? A case study of Mkombezi Community Seed Bank in Malawi," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1087-1108, August.
    3. Serge Savary & Stephen Waddington & Sonia Akter & Conny J. M. Almekinders & Jody Harris & Lise Korsten & Reimund P. Rötter & Goedele den Broeck, 2022. "Revisiting food security in 2021: an overview of the past year," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, February.
    4. Cornelius K. A. Pienaah & Roger Antabe & Godwin Arku & Isaac Luginaah, 2024. "Farmer field schools, climate action plans and climate change resilience among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 177(6), pages 1-25, June.

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