Knowledge Center Catalog

Developing flexible fertilizer recommendations for smallholder maize production in Malawi

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Harare (Zimbabwe) Soil Fert Net|CIMMYT : 1998ISBN:
  • 970-648-006-4
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 631.45 WAD
Summary: The methodology used to develop flexible area-specific fertilizer recommendations for smallholders in Malawi that grow hybrid maize is presented. Agronomic and household economic conditions are incorporated into the recommendations through a two-level decision tree that uses information on the general soil texture of the maize field and the production goals of the farming household. Four fertilizer application rates, each appropriate for a particular combination of production aim and soil texture were derived. Simple suggestions and guidelines for additional modifications to the recommendations accompany them to enable the farmer to make as intelligent a decision as possible on the rate of fertilizer to apply to the maize crop within the particular economic constraints of the farming household.|The analysis revealed the degree to which national food security is threatened by maize producer prices that do not fully reflect the costs of fertilized maize production. While higher prices are required to enable farmers to produce sufficient maize with fertilizer to meet Malawi's food needs, these prices may cause malnutrition and suffering among the maize-deficit poor households of the country. The policy ramifications of this analysis are considerable, yet equitable policy solutions are difficult to conceive.|
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Item type Current library Collection Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Conference proceedings CIMMYT Knowledge Center: John Woolston Library CIMMYT Publications Collection 631.45 WAD (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 1M628739
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The methodology used to develop flexible area-specific fertilizer recommendations for smallholders in Malawi that grow hybrid maize is presented. Agronomic and household economic conditions are incorporated into the recommendations through a two-level decision tree that uses information on the general soil texture of the maize field and the production goals of the farming household. Four fertilizer application rates, each appropriate for a particular combination of production aim and soil texture were derived. Simple suggestions and guidelines for additional modifications to the recommendations accompany them to enable the farmer to make as intelligent a decision as possible on the rate of fertilizer to apply to the maize crop within the particular economic constraints of the farming household.|The analysis revealed the degree to which national food security is threatened by maize producer prices that do not fully reflect the costs of fertilized maize production. While higher prices are required to enable farmers to produce sufficient maize with fertilizer to meet Malawi's food needs, these prices may cause malnutrition and suffering among the maize-deficit poor households of the country. The policy ramifications of this analysis are considerable, yet equitable policy solutions are difficult to conceive.|

English

9907|AGRIS 9902|R98-99ANALY

Jose Juan Caballero

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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