TIP 2000-2001 Targeted Inputs Programme A Qualitative Study of Markets and Livelihood Security in Rural Malawi Module 2, part 2 Jan Kees van Donge (team leader) Mackenzie Chivwaile, William Kasapila, Prince Kapondamgaga, Overtoun Mgemezulu, Noel Sangore, Elarton Thawani An evaluation study commissioned for the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Government of Malawi by the U.K. Department for International Development A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF MARKETS AND LIVELIHOOD SECURITY IN RURAL MALAWI Module 2 Part 2 of the Evaluation Programme for the 2000-01 Targeted Inputs Programme (TIP) Jan Kees van Donge (principal researcher) Mackenzie Chivwaile Prince Kapondamgaga William Kasapila Overtoun Mgemezulu Noel Sangore Elarton Thawani and Sarah Levy (editor) August 2001 This evaluation was commissioned by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of Malawi ii PART I------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 General Report ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Executive Summary -------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Introduction and methodology-----------------------------------------------------------------2 The policy environment of TIP ----------------------------------------------------------------2 The impact of free inputs on agricultural output --------------------------------------------2 Free inputs and Malawian cultural values----------------------------------------------------3 Maize production and market linkages -------------------------------------------------------3 Ganyu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Impoverishment, poverty alleviation and targeting -----------------------------------------4 Chapter 1: Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------- 5 Chapter 2: Methodology------------------------------------------------------- 10 Chapter 3: The policy environment of TIP 2000-01 ----------------------- 12 3.1 Economic reform and liberalisation------------------------------------------------ 12 3.2 Incentives and constraints ----------------------------------------------------------- 13 3.3 Poverty alleviation and targeting --------------------------------------------------- 13 Chapter 4: The impact of free inputs on agricultural output -------------- 16 4.1 Starter Pack and maize production ------------------------------------------------- 16 4.2 TIP and production decline---------------------------------------------------------- 17 Chapter 5: Free inputs and Malawian cultural values---------------------- 19 5.1 Do free inputs promote dependency? ---------------------------------------------- 19 5.2 Growing one’s own food ------------------------------------------------------------ 19 5.3 Food and poverty --------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 5.4 Cash benefits -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 5.5 Laziness-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22 5.6 Soil fertility---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Chapter 6: Maize production and market linkages ------------------------- 25 6.1 Maize and other crops---------------------------------------------------------------- 25 6.2 Non-commercial attitudes to maize ------------------------------------------------ 25 6.3 Relations with the cash economy--------------------------------------------------- 26 6.4 Incentives for maize production ---------------------------------------------------- 27 6.5 ADMARC and private traders ------------------------------------------------------ 28 Chapter 7: Ganyu --------------------------------------------------------------- 31 7.1 The meaning of ganyu --------------------------------------------------------------- 31 7.2 Ganyu and other forms of labour --------------------------------------------------- 32 7.3 Seasonality ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 7.4 Payment for ganyu ------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 7.5 Supply and demand ------------------------------------------------------------------ 34 Chapter 8: Impoverishment, poverty alleviation and targeting ----------- 37 8.1 Impoverishment----------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 8.2 Poverty alleviation-------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 8.3 Targeting in TIP 2000-01------------------------------------------------------------ 39 8.4 Social isolation, social safety nets and targeting --------------------------------- 40 Chapter 9: Conclusion – The evaluation outcome ------------------------- 42 PART II --------------------------------------------------------------------- 47 Village Studies ---------------------------------------------------------- 47 Marko Mwenechilanga, Karonga – The blessings of free inputs--------- 48 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 48 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 50 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 52 Msilamoyo, Nkhata Bay – A case of irrelevance of SP and TIP --------- 55 The impact of fee inputs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 58 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 61 Tombolombo, Mzimba – A community hungry for fertiliser------------- 64 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 64 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 67 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 71 Kamange, Nkhotakota – Free inputs in a peri-urban situation------------ 73 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 73 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 76 ii Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 78 Katsukunya, Dowa – Free inputs in a tobacco-dominated village ------- 81 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 81 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 84 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 87 Kankodola, Dedza – Free inputs where agriculture is in decline--------- 90 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 91 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 93 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 95 Mkalo, Machinga - Free inputs along the main road----------------------- 97 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------- 97 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets------------------------------------------ 98 Social structure and poverty------------------------------------------------------------------ 99 Thopina, Mulanje – Free inputs where maize does not grow------------ 101 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------101 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets-----------------------------------------102 Social structure and poverty-----------------------------------------------------------------105 Chisi, Nsanje – Free inputs where the soil is fertile----------------------- 108 The impact of free inputs --------------------------------------------------------------------108 Livelihood strategies and relations with markets-----------------------------------------110 Social structure and poverty-----------------------------------------------------------------114 References ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 116 Appendix 1: Terms of Reference-------------------------------------------- 119 Appendix 2: Checklist for interviewing ------------------------------------ 124 iii Glossary of terms in local languages Asodzi Fishing crew Chaka Upland farming (see also Mphala) Chibwaka Sweet potato leaves Chigwada Cassava leaves Chikumu Mutual work arrangement (see also Chilimiziga; Vare) Chilimiziga Work cooperative (see also Chikumu; Vare) Chitenje Wrap-around cloths for wearing or for carrying, e.g. babies Chitibu Nsima made of flour from sun dried fresh maize Chiwira Work party for beer or food (see also Ndanjira) Dambo Waterlogged or swampy land Dimba Gardens where moisture is sufficient for dry season farming, e.g. in river beds or dambo land Ganyu A broad designation of agreements for temporary labour arrangements Kachasu Liquor distilled from grains and tubers, but especially maize and cassava Kale Long ago Kaunjika Second hand clothes Khasu Hoe Lobola Bride price Madeya Maize seconds Matola Informal transport services Milambala Plots or pieces of land Misipu Young cassava Mkwawu Big fishing nets Mphala Upland farming (see also Chaka) Mpiru Mustard leaves Mwera Winds occurring in June and