An Assessment of the Processes and Pathways to Achieve Innovation in Conservation Agriculture in Malawi: A Case of Machinga Agricultural Development Division

Abstract: 
A study was carried out in Machinga Agricultural Development Division, located in the Southern Region of Malawi to assess the institutional arrangements for implementation of conservation agriculture (CA). Social network analysis was used to characterise actors implementing CA, their goal orientation, and interactions between them. The preliminary findings reveal a breakdown in the institutional framework for CA as evidenced by variations among actors in their definition and practices of CA and the lack of coordination that exists at local level.
Une étude a été réalisée dans la division du développement agricole de Machinga, située dans la région sud du Malawi pour évaluer les arrangements institutionnels pour l’implantation de l’agriculture de conservation (AC). L’analyse des réseaux sociaux a été utilisée pour caractériser les acteurs mettant en oeuvre l’agriculture de conservation (AC), leur orientation vers un but, et les interactions entre eux. Les résultats préliminaires révèlent une rupture dans le cadre institutionnel pour l’agriculture de conservation (AC) comme en témoignent les variations parmi les acteurs dans leur définition et leurs pratiques de l’AC et le manque de coordination qui existe au niveau local.
Language: 
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Enhancing Natural Resource Management
Date of publication: 
2012
Country: 
Region Focus: 
Southern Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under Enhancing Natural Resource Management