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Women and men farmer perceptions of economic and health benefits of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Phalombe and Chikwawa districts in Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Netsayi N. Mudege

    (International Potato Center (SSA, Nairobi))

  • Sarah Mayanja

    (International Potato Center (SSA, Kampala))

  • Tawanda Muzhingi

    (International Potato Center (SSA, Nairobi))

Abstract

Based on a qualitative study conducted in Chikwawa and Phalombe in Malawi, this paper looks at farmers perceived economic, health and social benefits of production, commercialization and consumption of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). Findings demonstrate that perceived health and economic benefits were key determinants in adoption of OFSP varieties. Men and women are receptive to health and nutrition based promotion messages. Health benefits included increased energy to work, for sex, improved health, general wellbeing and cognitive development for children. Economic benefits included ability to invest income from selling of OFSP roots and vines in housing, purchase of livestock, food, and land. Income from OFSP enabled farmers to diversify into other cash crops. Women also mentioned increasing self-esteem due to increased incomes since they no longer needed to ask for money from their husbands to buy household consumables. However, men and women did not have equal access to and control of economic benefits and therefore women could not invest in large assets like cattle, land and agriculture equipment which could contribute to food security and are important to moving out of poverty. Interventions to increase farmer incomes should be designed in ways that allow women to actively participate and benefit. Since livestock are a key investment option and also contribute to food security and diversification, options for making sweet potato based silage for animal feed would be an important intervention especially for vines that would otherwise go to waste due to lack of markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Netsayi N. Mudege & Sarah Mayanja & Tawanda Muzhingi, 2017. "Women and men farmer perceptions of economic and health benefits of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Phalombe and Chikwawa districts in Malawi," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(2), pages 387-400, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:9:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s12571-017-0651-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-017-0651-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joanne Adero & G. O. Akongo & B. Yada & D. K. Byarugaba & Mercy Kitavi & B. Bua & G. C. Yencho & M. A. Otema, 2024. "Sweet Potato Virus Disease and Its Associated Vectors: Farmers’ Knowledge and Management Practices in Uganda," Journal of Agricultural Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(7), pages 1-83, July.
    2. Nouman Afzal & Stavros Afionis & Lindsay C. Stringer & Nicola Favretto & Marco Sakai & Paola Sakai, 2021. "Benefits and Trade-Offs of Smallholder Sweet Potato Cultivation as a Pathway toward Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Gatto, Marcel & Mgomezulu, Wisdom R. & Okello, Julius J. & Pradel, Willy & Kwikiriza, Norman & Hareau, Guy G., 2023. "Direct and spillover effects of biofortified sweetpotato interventions on sustained adoption in Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Mica Jenkins & Carmen Byker Shanks & Roland Brouwer & Bailey Houghtaling, 2018. "Factors affecting farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt and retain vitamin A-rich varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato in Mozambique," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(6), pages 1501-1519, December.
    5. Hudson, Heather E. & Leclair, Mark & Pelletier, Bernard & Sullivan, Bartholomew, 2017. "Using radio and interactive ICTs to improve food security among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 670-684.

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    Keywords

    Sweet potato; Gender; Income; Malawi;
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