Investigating the influence of communication channels on adoption of climate smart agriculture in Bolero, Rumphi district in Malawi

Abstract

A lot of agricultural technologies are being promoted in Malawi to encourage smallholder farmers to adapt to climate change effects. One such technology is Climate Smart Agriculture technologies (CSAs), which in this context, refers to an integration of conservation agriculture, agroforestry, irrigation, compost manure making, construction of marker ridges, integrated soil fertility management, intercropping, pit planting, and small scale livestock keeping. However, uptake of these new agricultural technologies remains low, and, lack of information, is presumed to be one of the major causes for low adoption rates. A study was conducted in Rumphi district in Northern Malawi to investigate whether communication channels influence the adoption of CSA so as to inform CSA promotion programmes. The study was conducted in Jalira section of Bolero EPA, purposively sampled due to low adoption of CSA technologies. Three villages were then purposively sampled due to accessibility and proximity from which 104 farm households were randomly sampled to participate in the study that included two focus group discussions and key informants interviews (KIIs). Study findings revealed that extension officers and lead farmers, in that order, are currently the dominant communication channels being used for CSA technology promotion although they are inadequate and have limited coverage. In terms of the communication channel preferences, 69.2% indicated extension staff followed by radio 17.3%, and lead farmers 12.5% this implies the potential of using radio for CSA messages. The study also revealed that the CSA messages are communicated in a top-bottom approach hence necessitating the need for a more transformative engagement approach in which the farmers would not be merely passive recipients of information. Finally, there is poor coordination among the supply side of iii information which may lead to confusion among farmers. These findings are of great significance at both local level and national level, because they inform key stakeholders in the agricultural sector of the potential of using innovative radio because it would enhance the reach of CSA messages in areas not reached by extension staff.