Resource information
Deforestation arising from conversion of forest areas into agriculture is a serious problem in Malawi. This paper discusses competition for agricultural land and investigates why the poor are closely associated with forests. Furthermore, the paper examines the effects of changes in crop land use on changes in forest cover. The author notes that the government of Malawi, like many others in sub-Saharan Africa, is currently faced with the problem of poverty. Moreover, being agricultural based most poverty reduction policies are streamlined along the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, some agricultural policies that have been designed to reduce income poverty have on the other hand harmed the environment through deforestation. Thus, an understating of how much cultivation of each crop contributes to how much deforestation is crucial in helping policy makers to come up with policies that can strike a balance between the two. Concerning findings, the document shows that:
cultivation of different crops has varying effects on deforestation
the need to grow cash crops has a negative effect on deforestation
particularly, cultivation of maize, primarily by the poor, appears to be the principal cause of deforestation while tobacco and pulses stand at second and third positions, respectively
there is a need to consider adoption of modern farming techniques and technology to ensure that maize farmers are able to produce more output from less land areas
in addition, there is a need to ensure that property rights and secure ownership are promoted, especially amongst the poor
this can help local smallholders to consider the issue of reforestation more seriously than is the case today.
