标题：DECISION MAKING IMPLICATIONS OF NATURAL DISASTERS' ADAPTATION ON SMALLHOLDER CROP PRODUCTION IN MALAWI: USING A NORMALIZED TRANSLOG PRODUCTION FUNCTION
期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2013
卷号：15
期号：1
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：This study selectively assessed the contribution of decision mak ing over natural disasters adaptation on smallholder food crop production in Malawi. Data for this study was collected from rando mly selected households from low and highland areas in Malawi using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data revealed that more than 60 % of households make household level policy decisions in engaging in irrigation farming, crop diversification and gro w improved varieties to reduce the effects of natural disasters in Malawi. Based on empirical results, normalized Translog production reveals that irrigation farming increased food production by 8% and 6% in low and highland areas, respectively. On the other hand, shifting crop-planting dates reduced food production by 24% and 37% in low and highland areas, respectively. This study concluded that adaptation strategies have significant contribution on food production in both areas. Ho wever, decision makers at both household and project levels should understand and mainstream barriers related natural disasters' adaptation into farming systems to capture maximum contributions of overall climatic adaptation. Sustainable farming systems could only be assured if decision-making accounts for barriers that hinder effective choices and implementation of natural disasters adaptation. In other words, current farming systems may only save the needs of future generat ion when adaptation actions mainstream barriers faced by smallholder farming communities in Malawi
关键词：Normalized Translog production function; natural disasters adaptation and decision
