Climate change in semi-arid Malawi: Perceptions, adaptation strategies and water governance

Abstract

Climate change and variability are a threat to sustainable agricultural production in semi-arid areas of Malawi. Overdependence on subsistence rain-fed agriculture in these areas calls forthe identification of sustainable adaptation strategies. A study was therefore conducted inChikwawa, a semi-arid district in southern Malawi, to: (1) assess community’s perception of achanging climate against empirical evidence, (2) determine their local adaptive measures,(3) evaluate the potential of irrigated agriculture as an adaptive measure in household foodsecurity and (4) challenges over access to available water resources. The study employed focusgroup discussions and key informant interviews to assess people’s perceptions of climatechange and variability and their desired interventions. To validate the people’s perceptions,rainfall and temperature data for the period 1960–2010 were analysed. A participatory completerandomised experimental design in both rain-fed and dry season–irrigated conditions wasconducted to assess a maize cropping system that would improve adaptation. The studyestablished persistent declining yields from rain-fed production in part because of perennialrainfall failure. In response, the community has shifted its focus to irrigation as an adaptationstrategy, which has in turn triggered water conflicts in the community over the control of theresource. Water legislation however fails to adequately provide for rules governing sharing ofwater resources between various stakeholders. This article therefore recommends developmentof an appropriate institutional framework that forms a strong basis for equitable distributionof water for irrigation in areas most vulnerable to extreme climate events – including droughtsand floods