Adoption of sustainable agricultural intensification practices and their welfare impacts: Comparative evidence from Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda

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August 14, 2024 - Kristin Davis, Anderson Gondwe, Lemekezani Kingston Chilora, Dinah Tuwanje Salonga, Aleksandr Michuda,

Agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges, including low adoption of new technologies, climate change, land degradation, and shrinking farm sizes due to population growth. Sustainable intensification practices (SIPs) offer a promising solution to improve productivity while minimizing environmental impact and avoiding land expansion. SIPs encompass various practices such as agroforestry, use of fertilizers, minimum tillage, and improved seed varieties. Despite research investments, adoption of SIPs remains low, particularly in countries like Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda, where food insecurity is prevalent, especially among female-headed households.

This research explores the role of gender in SIP adoption, recognizing the importance of decision-making at the farm level, and categorizes households into male, female, and joint decision-makers. It examines the impact of SIP adoption on food security and nutrition, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive interventions to improve welfare outcomes for small-scale farmers.

By conducting a comparative analysis across Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda, the study aims to provide evidence on how the adoption of SIPs affects food security and household welfare. The research emphasizes the need for context-specific policies, tailored to local conditions and gender differences, to effectively promote SIP adoption and improve agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Facts: 

  • Sustainable intensification
    practices (SIPs) have
    demonstrated positive
    impacts on food and
    nutritional security across
    various contexts.
  • Interventions must be
    tailored to local conditions,
    accounting for gender
    differences and the unique
    needs and circumstances of
    each country.
  • Extension and crop-livestock integration
    farming should be scaled up
    as they are pivotal in
    enhancing SIP adoption.

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Tag List
  • prci policy brief,
  • innovation lab for food security policy research capacity & influence
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