David L. Ortega|Kurt B. Waldman|Robert B. Richardson|Daniel C. Clay|Sieglinde S. Snapp
Sustainable Intensification and Farmer Preferences for Crop System Attributes: Evidence from Malawi’s Central and Southern Regions
Michigan State University|Indiana University Bloomington|Michigan State University|Michigan State University|Michigan State University
low soil fertility limiting factor farm productivity household nutrition economic development many parts africa due continuous cultivation maize centuries diversifying maize monocrop legumes proposed one solution declining soil fertility adoption legumes africa remains low despite much needed soil fertility nutrition benefits provided crops employ choice experiments examine farmers preferences groundnut soybean pigeon pea intercropped maize explore barriers drivers adoption central southern malawi overall farmers significantly discount legume yields favor maize yields despite additional benefits provided legumes labor constraints market access potentially important barriers legume adoption previously thought results identified three types farmers varying preferences grain yields largest group 48 associated strongly positive preference legume maize grain yield mediumsized group 35 values maize yield smallest group 17 preferences legume yield medium group may growing legumes benefits enhanced maize productivity smallest group may primarily subsistence producers findings suggest uptake legume maize intercrop systems might improved practitioners focus legumes lower labor requirements better marketability