Abstract

Agro-forestry Food Security Programme (AFSP) promoted fertiliser trees, fruit trees, fuel wood trees and fodder tress with an objective of positively impacting on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their families. Using primary data from a sample of 141 households from two villages in Mulanje district the study addressed two specific objectives. These were to determine the factors that influence household decision to participate in AFSP and ascertain the effect of AFSP on the adopters’ rural livelihoods. The Heckman two step procedure model and the Individual Household Model (IHM) were used to assess the two specific objectives. The participation model in the first step of the Heckman’s two step model showed that household size, access to extension services, formal employment and piecework significantly influenced the households’ decision to adopt AFSP. The outcome equation in the second stage of the Heckman’s showed that there is a positive correlation between own food income and AFSP adoption however the impact of AFSP did not make a significant difference between the adopters and non adopters. The study therefore recommends that ICRAF and the stakeholders should intensify the farmer contact with the extension agents. This can be achieved by reducing the channels of resources flow to ensure that front line staffs are reasonably supported logistically to reach out to farmers; establishing a well linked communication channels for example mass media to disseminate information on agro-forestry practices; and promotion of exchange visits for the adopters as an incentive to the farmers. The self selection into the programme should be regulated so that it is indeed those that are able and willing to be prioritised in the AFSP programme not piecework dependant.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2012

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