Unleashing maize-dairy integrated
production potential for improved
smallholder farming
Chiumia, D, Gondwe, T.N., Banda, L.J., Kawonga, B, Chagunda, M.,
Msiska, H.D.C., Juma, S., & Simunji, S
Conference on Policies for Competitive Smallholder Livestock Production
Gaborone, Botswana, 4-6 March 2015

Why the need to increase
synergy

Trade offs ~ Conservation
Agriculture (CA)
Photos:D.Chiumia

Study approach
• Household Survey
• A semi-structured questionnaire
• Key Informant Interviews
• Farmers group committee
• 16 farmers groups in Malawi
• 5 Northern, 6 Central & 5 Southern regions
• Sample size was 466

Key Results
• 80% of the dairy farmers were using maize stover
as feed
• 68% rated high that maize crop residues is a palatable
feed
• Majority of farmers were using maize bran (96%)
unlike dairy mash (24%).
• 20% had a chance to practice CA
• 93% agreed that the technology can be integrated
with dairying farming

Potential Pathways

Source: Gondwe., T.N and Chiumia, D, (2013)

Recommendations
• Crops residues from key crops such as maize among
dairy farmers should not be retained in the soil for
CA rather should be used as feed
• Application of manure in maize fields to achieve
environmental health should be enhanced for
increased synergy between maize and dairy
enterprises
• There is a need to advocate for policy harmonisation
in livestock and crop

World Bank
Acknowledgements

World Bank
Acknowledgements