Vol. 9 No. 2
Research trends in horticultural crops in Malawi
Author(s): A.A. KHONJE
Abstract: The review looks at the progress in the promotion of horticultural crops through research, as well as the institutions that have been involved in the sector through financial support and the integration of farmers into the research on production of horticulture crops in Malawi, African country. The driving force for research in horticulture in Malawi, is crop diversification and the search for high yielding varieties which are resistant to pest and diseases. The country has one major staple food source, maize and due to the effects of climate change and global warming the country has been hited with erratic rains resulting in poor maize yields and this has been seen the country emphasising its research into root and tuber crops which are believed to do well even with low rainfall. Malawi as a developing country, is at a stage where the main objective for the country\'s leadership is to feed its people as also evident in the review research endeavours. No or limited research has been initiated in floriculture or ornamental horticulture showing that the country is still at the stage of meeting its basic needs, one of which is food. However, that being said, Malawi has a very narrow economic base which is agricultural and emphasis in horticulture would contribute towards widening the economic base. The review has also shown that as much as the government machinery controls how research is conducted in the country and that the new technologies can only be released by the Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATCC), there is so much dependence upon donors for financial support
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