Food Diversity In Malawi

A Potential Design Solution

Aidan Hamilton, Ace Leben, Cameron Meyen, Julia Speck,

The Problem
Subsistence based farmers in Malawi suffer
from a lack of food diversity that:
harms crop yields per acre
impairs the health of the populace.

Malawian Farmers Have a Lack of Food

Diversity

Lack of Food Diversity is Harmful to Health

The 2009 Micronutrient Deficiency Study found 48% of
children under five and 25% of women of reproductive age
were iron deficient, 40% of children under five and 30% of
school-aged children were vitamin A deficient, and 11% of
school-aged children had low urinary iodine levels.
Although no recent data on zinc or folate deficiency
exists, based on the high rates of stunting (40%) and
reports of neural tube defects, it can be assumed both
remain of serious concern. - Project Healthy Children on
Malawi

Lack of Food Diversity is Harmful to Crop

Yields
Currently most farmers are not growing plants that fix
nitrogen into the soil, missing an opportunity to
improve their poor soil quality and increase yields.
Farmers are also primarily growing corn, a nutrient
intensive crop that has poor yields if not planted in
rich soil or enhanced with fertilizer.
Lack of food diversity of crops does not maximize the
potential amount of plants per unit of land.

Existing Solutions
Biofortification
Malawis Essential Nutrition Action Program
Kusamala, Institute of Agriculture and
Ecology

Biofortification
Increasing the level of a specific
micronutrient in a food in order to improve
the nutritional value of the food
Accomplished through plant breeding
Example: Biocassava Plus Program

Malawis Essential Nutrition Program

WHO
Focus on educating families about newborn,
infant, and young child health and nutrition
Improper breastfeeding practices can lead
to malnutrition
Ex. complementary foods (weaning foods)
volunteers make frequent visits to
households. Demos and Talks

Kusamala, Institute of Agriculture

and Ecology
Founded in 2009
A local Malawi organization that promotes
permaculture by holding demonstrations and educating
the public.
Permaculture: Developing an agricultural ecosystem
that is sustainable and self-sufficient
For all malawian communities to have the ability and knowledge to creatively pursue their own path
towards achieving food security, diversity, economic stability, and productive healthy environments

Permaculture Zones
Areas that are used more
frequently are put closer to
the house. Areas that are
less used are placed farther
away

Solution
Our proposed solution is to design a one acre plot of land that maximizes
crop yield and diversity of nutrients without utilizing any technology that
Malawian subsistence farmers would not already possess. Because of the
many variables involved we narrowed our focus to farmers in the
province of Lilongwe in Malawi.

Climate in Lilongwe

Lilongwe is located on plateau situated at an altitude of 1,050 m (3,440

ft) above sea level.
A humid subtropical climate that borders on a subtropical highland
climate.
Annual Rainfall is 800-1000mm
Mean Annual Temperature is about 68 to 72.5 F during the growing
season. Lowest is July with 38.8 to 54.5 F. Highest temperature is in
october to november at up to 102.2F.
Major soil type is primarily a sandy clay loam.
Lilongwe features a short wet season that runs from December to March
and a lengthy dry season that covers most of the rest of the year,
especially June and July which are cooler than the rest of the year

Farming Techniques Used to Improve

Crop Yield

Crop Rotation, having beds of some nitrogen fixing plant for a season and
then planting a soil intensive crop, such as maize the season after.
Utilizing a method called double digging will greatly improve the quality
of the soil and is especially useful for plots without fertilizer. It requires
no equipment other than a fork/hoe, a shovel and some compost. This
can easily be manufactured with leftover greenery from harvest.
Choosing plants the exhibit symbiotic behavior whenever possible.
Designing the plot of land so that the soil that the plants are grown in is
never stepped upon, reducing compression of the soil and dramatically
enhancing the effectiveness of the double digging.

Double Digging

The Design of the Plot

-80% of land utilized
for beds to grow
crops.
-The rest of the acre
is used for pathing.

Plants to be Used in Plot

40% Maize
30% Cowpea
4% Groundnut
8% Sweet Potato
8% Cassava
5.5% Okra
.5% Pumpkin
4% Mango

Maize

While this crop is poorly suited to Lilongwe, and Malawi in general, we

kept it in our plot because it is such a culturally significant crop.
The crop as a whole thrives in a humid subtropical climate.
Able to grow with the annual rainfall in Lilongwe.
Extremely soil intensive, the main reason it doesnt grow well in Malawi.

Cowpea

The Cowpea was chosen because is can withstand high amounts heat, and
it does amazingly well when faced with drought
Lilongwes annual rainfall is plenty for the Cowpea plants to grow.
It is a self-pollinating plant that requires very little human interaction.
The Cowpea has a very high nitrogen fixation level, and is very high in
protein.

Groundnut

The groundnut is suited for Lilongwes dry and poor soil

It requires 500-700 mm of rainfall during growth
We chose this particular plant to satisfy the dietary requirement of
protein
It also produces a high level of nitrogen
Susceptibility to weeds, but the
region doesnt have
significant amount of them to
warrant attention

Sweet Potato

The Sweet Potato was chosen because it has a medium level of drought
resistance.
Lilongwes annual rainfall will support the growth of the Sweet Potato.
The Sweet Potato has huge amounts of Vitamin A which will help add a
variety to nutrition and diet.

Cassava

Its extremely adaptable, can survive slight frost and high temperatures
It requires 1000-1500 mm of rainfall
It produces cyanide poisoning if not prepared properly
This concern is negated by the fact that cassava is a well-known plant
and is already part of Malawian diet
It provides a significant amount of Vitamin C and carbohydrates

Okra

Thrives in a wide range of temperatures.

Can easily grow with the amount of rainfall in Lilongwe.
Okra is high in Vitamin C.
Once the plant is matured, it can quickly produce full Okra pod within 23 days.
Easily storable

Pumpkin

Another additional vegetable to supplement okra

Requires a lot of nitrogen so we left it at .5%
Does well in hot temperatures 60 to 105 degrees F
Requires annual 762mm of rainfall
Other than nitrogen requirement very
favorable plant for Lilongwe

Mango

Sub-tropical plant that is heat resistant

Can thrive in 40 degrees F or more
Requires very little water in 300mm annually
Very nutritious, provides Vitamin C and A
some Vitamin B, potassium and
carbohydrates

Grows well in the sandy soil of the

Lilongwe region.

Pugh Matrix
Permaculture

Biofortification

Plot Design

Labor

Yield (weighted)

Diversity of Nutrients
(weighted)

Cost (weighted)

Environmental
Impact

Cultural Impact

Upfront Investments

total weighted

31

40

38

Issues with the design

Did not arrange plot to take advantage of different
growing seasons to get multiple harvests per year.
Did not consider micronutrients in detail
Would need considerably more research and testing to
actually create a maximized plot.

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