SYSTEM: Crop commodity: Maize
1. System name: Crop production/crop commodity: Maize
2. Brief description:
Maize is the main staple food for Malawi, and its production is shared between subsistence farmers, small-scale (commercial) farmers and a few big estates. Maize import/export is strictly controlled by government, in order to manage the price of maize on the market, given the heavy reliance of most rural inhabitants on their maize production for livelihood (food, income, employment). Maize is sold at local markets and also through state-run ADMARC centers. Private business owners also deal in maize, buying and selling at opportune times. Government buys maize at a fixed price through the ADMARC centers and subsidizes sale of the maize during times of shortage. The national strategic food reserve holds an inventory of maize and would release maize into the market in times of shortage to help manage the overall price of maize. The annual cycle of maize marketing is described in a paper by JICA …XXX
3. Current constraints (factors of production etc):
- Rainfall patterns/growing season characteristics and quality
- Quality of inputs (fertilizer, mechanization, extension services)
- Quality and suitability of seed (provenance) for changing conditions
4. Risks now and in the future (CC and others):
- Risk of crop failing due to changing growing season weather conditions (floods, drought/aridity, changed patterns affecting phenological development, etc)
- Risk of low yield due to poor inputs (limited fertilizer input)
- Risk of crop failure due to pest outbreaks, such as locust, fall army worms, etc
5. Adaptation options to address the CC risks:
- Changing crop types and provenances (to crops maturing in a shorter growth season, drought-tolerant varieties) – these may require new breeding programmes
- Improve water management through irrigation, damming, etc to reduce dependence on rain-fed production
- Managing the full range of risks with a combination of actions and insurance at the local or national level
6. Required other actions to ensure adaptation is successful
- Data driven crop production system that utilizes best available climate information services
- National insurance through ARC to manage risk of major crop failure and avoid food insecuty disaster
- Crop breeding, data collection and monitoring to support extension services and support to farmers, manage pests and diseases
7. Adaptation potential rating
- Medium to high
