The potential for agroforestry adoption and carbon sequestration in smallholder agroecosystems of Malawi: An ethnographic linear programming approach.

摘要

This study reports on research conducted in Malawi to evaluate (1) the potential adoption of improved fallows of Sesbania sesban (L) Merr and Tephrosia vogelii, (2) to account and quantify carbon sequestered in smallholder agroecosystems, and (3) to assess the impact of poor health on agricultural production. Simulations were carried out in a ten-year model using ethnographic linear programming.; Results show that when improved fallows are introduced, households stop growing chemically fertilized maize. A seed selling incentive increased discretionary cash, however, there was no statistically significant difference in improved fallow with or without the option to sell seed. Total land cultivated increased with a seed selling incentive (P 0.0001). Adoption can happen in both male- and female-headed households, as long as sufficient land and labor are available. Households with more land plant more improved fallows, and those with more cash plant less. When the number of people increases in a household, there is more adoption. Conversely, households that require more maize, but have less people contributing labor, adopt less improved fallows.; In a smallholder farm in Malawi up to 4.6 MgC/ha/yr could be accumulated. Improved fallows result in greater carbon sequestration than annual crops. A carbon incentive increases carbon sequestered on farms even though it not lead to more fallows being planted. The impact of poor health on overall food production depends on the gender of the sick person. The sickness and death of a male head affect the total labor force available to the farm and hence the food security of the household.