Constraints and Opportunities for Increased Coffee Productivity under Climate Change: A Case of Mzuzu Smallholder Coffee Planters Cooperative Union in Malawi

Abstract

Coffee contributes significant income to economy of Malawi. Most smallholder farmers produce coffee cherry yield below 500 kg per hectare due to various challenges. Information on coffee farming household demographic characteristics, constraints and opportunities for high productivity, knowledge on climate change and indicators, and practices for adapting to effects of climate change on coffee is scarce. A survey was implemented in five coffee growers’ cooperatives under Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union. Respondents (n = 372) were randomly selected and interviewed using a questionnaire. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Mean Derived Scores (MDS) were calculated in Microsoft excel. 74.7% of respondents were male, and belonged to male headed households (87.1%). Respondents (80.4%) were above 40 years old. Only 3.5% were in age category of 18-30. 87.6% of respondents were married. Mean number of individuals in a household was six. Majority of farmers (62.1%) attended primary education. Only 1.65 attended tertiary education. Pests and diseases was the major constraint to high coffee cherry yield productivity (MDS = 4.4). Favourable environmental conditions can contribute towards high coffee productivity (MDS = 4.6). Unpredictable rainfall was the first indicator of climate change (MDS = 5.0). Death of plants (MDS = 5.5) and low cherry yield (MDS = 4.6) are important effects of climate change on coffee. Farmers intercropped coffee with shade trees (MDS = 5.0) to adapt to effects of climate change. Government and development partners should promote minority groups, and agroforestry systems such as intercropping coffee with bananas in order to adapt to effects of climate change and ensure high productivity and sustainable coffee production.