Farmer voices shaping co-design of innovations for sustainable mixed farming systems in Malawi

Engaging smallholder farmers in the co-design of agronomic innovations that improve decision-making and diversify farming systems is central to the Mixed Farming Systems (MFS) initiative in Malawi. The initiative focuses on intercropping systems with legumes—often regarded as “women’s crops”—to enhance both nutrition and soil fertility. Despite their significant contributions to farm labor, women often have limited control over land, assets, and key decisions. By recognizing farmers’ voices, especially those of women, the MFS initiative integrates social and gender dimensions, promoting whole-farm solutions that enhance livelihoods while protecting the environment.

Farmers—women, youth, and men, with different resource endowment levels —participate in exploring different intercropping systems using the “mother and baby” approach. These trials compare innovations like Doubled Up Legumes (DUL) and Mbili Mbili with conventional maize-legume intercropping, with the aim to increase legume yields without sacrificing maize productivity. These systems enable farmers to harvest more grain and biomass, improving soil health and providing livestock fodder, contributing to sustainable mixed farming.

The trials are being implemented across diverse agro-ecological zones including the densely populated maize-groundnut systems in Kasungu District, the warm, dry areas in Mzimba and Balaka Districts where production is limited, and in more diversified systems in Zomba District. This approach tailors innovations to the specific needs of each region, ensuring that both agronomic and socio-ecological factors are considered.

Farmers’ perspectives on trial experiences

Data were collected from 42 farmers, including women, youth, and men who participated in the trials, with plots ranging from 1 to 10 acres. Half of these farmers kept livestock such as chicken, goat, or cattle. The participants were either members of a farmer field school or lead farmers and were interested in exchanging knowledge with other stakeholders. They participated in feedback meetings where they evaluated the performance of intercropping systems by drawing on the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework (SIAF) domains. This approach allowed them to assess productive and economic values alongside human, social, and environmental quality, offering a comprehensive view of the systems’ overall impact and effectiveness.

Increased productivity and economic gains: Research results showed that during the 2022 and 2023 seasons Mbili Mbili outperformed all other systems, yielding 5,230 kg/ha in maize-equivalent grain —14% higher than sole maize and 131% higher than the DUL system. It also resulted in a relative partial profit of USD 727/ha compared to the DUL system. Poor performance of legume systems in 2023 was attributed to erratic rainfall and pest infestations. These results directly align with farmers’ top priority of increased crop productivity, translating to improved food security and potential economic benefits. Mbili Mbili was especially valued for maximizing yields, profits, and nutritional benefits on small landholdings. For women and youth, who often manage smaller plots with limited labor, intercropping offers a way to intensify production and reduce labor demands.

“Most young farmers start with small plots, often less than an acre. We used to focus on a single crop for better yields. These trials taught us how to grow legumes and maize together on small plots. Women chose the legumes, and both men and women worked together to manage the same plot—from planting to harvest.” – Youth group in Mtunthama EPA

Improved soil fertility, biomass, and water conservation: Farmers emphasized the benefits of mixing legumes with cereals to harness improved soil fertility and provide better ground cover for moisture retention, which creates a favourable microclimate for crops. This aligns with ongoing efforts to explore use of organic fertilizers, livestock manure, and mulching for promoting soil health. Trials also confirmed that Mbili Mbili produces an additional 0.5 tons/ha of biomass, which can be used as mulch or livestock feed.

“Intercropping lets us grow diverse crops on small plots and harvest more. The ridges help prevent soil erosion and maintain fertility, leading to better harvests.” – Women’s group in Mtunthama EPA

Economic impacts for women: Moreover, women recognized intercropping legumes as a valuable income source. But challenges such as the high cost of inputs (seeds, fertilizers) and labor remain barriers. Women, in particular, face labor burdens, small landholdings, and limited market access, which prevent them from building capital and improving their creditworthiness. For resource-poor households that rely on off-farm work to get through lean periods, balancing these activities with timely input procurement is a major challenge. Early planning and securing resources are critical, but quality legume seed availability remains problematic, especially following the 2024 El Niño induced drought.

“When we have enough food, finances improve. Women won’t need to take on extra jobs. But ‘Mbili Mbili’ requires early land preparation and enough seeds, fertilizer, and labor. Expanding to larger plots would allow us to sell more, benefiting our families.” – Women’s group in Champira.

Strengthened social cooperation: Growing diverse crops on smaller plots fostered greater cooperation between men and women, leading to shared decision-making and reducing labor burdens for women through more effective labor allocation. Participants noted that intercropping required better coordination, particularly during peak labor periods like ridge preparation and planting, which in turn strengthened social cooperation. Women gained more control through this intercropping system, which increased their involvement in agricultural decisions, while men became more engaged as they saw greater benefits.

“We harvested more from smaller plots, and the workload felt lighter. Men are more involved in ‘Mbili Mbili’ now, making it easier to make decisions together. They help with the heavier tasks like preparing plots and planting.” – Women’s group in Champira added.

Dietary diversity: Although intercropping was recognized for improving dietary diversity, this was also rated as a lower priority, especially following a poor season. Youth, in particular, prioritized maximizing yield and profitability over diversifying diets, likely reflecting the impact of the El Niño season. To sustain diversified diets, greater attention is needed to ease access to and ensure the availability of legume seeds in future seasons.

“With ‘Mbili Mbili,’ we get both beans and maize. Before, with conventional methods, we harvested less and couldn’t diversify our food sources.” – Youth group in Chulu.

Lessons for operationalizing co-design

For reorganizing farming systems towards sustainable outcomes, a shift is required from conventional research to participatory, adaptive approaches. The process begins by involving farmers in trial designs, ensuring their experiences and preferences shape the research agenda.

1. Participatory farm-level research and adaptive innovation

Future research should build on these insights by expanding intercropping with complementary innovations such as crop-livestock integration, soil fertility improvement, soil and water conservation, and mechanization. For example, while farmers appreciate legumes in maize fields, their performance varies by context and season, requiring tailored management. Young farmers showed particular interest in soya for its profitability, while beans and groundnuts performed differently across regions, especially following the El Niño season. Pigeon pea, however, was especially vulnerable to disease and livestock grazing. There was also interest in dual-purpose crops like maize and legumes, which benefit both crop and livestock systems. This participatory approach highlighted the importance of tailoring agricultural innovations to local needs, making them more effective and scalable.

Participatory technology evaluation allows farmers to reflect on innovations within their own context, identifying key priorities such as food security, soil health, and market viability. On-farm trials not only generate valuable data for scenario and trade-off analyses but also encourage ownership and co-learning, which increases the likelihood of adoption.

However, co-design must extend beyond agronomic trials. It should explore farmers’ decision-making processes, incorporating their feedback into iterative research cycles. Stakeholders also emphasized the need to move from consultation to true collaboration, emphasizing that farmers’ choices shape the refinement of intercropping technologies. This collaborative approach strengthens relationships between farmers, researchers, and partners, ensuring that technical solutions are better aligned with local realities.

2. Gender equity as a driver for sustainability and impact

Intercropping being a core innovation enhances both household food security and environmental sustainability, while it also fosters joint decision-making within households, thereby strengthening women’s roles in these outcomes. Farmer feedback revealed that when men and women collaborate, the farm labor burden is distributed more equitably, and the productivity gains are shared more widely across the household.

In addition, gender-responsive programs, like those linked to intercropping and other climate-smart practices, can enhance resource use efficiency and increase returns on investment. For example, promoting legume intercropping improves soil health while expanding women’s access to markets and control over household income. Empowering women in decision-making further strengthens the resilience of smallholder farming systems.

Youth engagement is equally important. With limited access to land, young farmers benefit from high-productivity practices like intercropping, which maximize the value of small plots for both food security and income generation. Ensuring the active participation of women and youth in the co-design of innovations not only fosters adoption but also enhances social inclusion within farming communities.

3. Long-term partnerships and place-based platforms for scaling

The success of co-design in sustainable intensification depends on strong, long-term partnerships and place-based platforms. Engaging with local stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and traditional authorities, from the onset ensures that innovations are adapted to local contexts and scaled effectively.

Place-based platforms, such as Village and Area Stakeholder Panels, local-level structures that inform the District Agricultural Extension Coordination Committees (DAECC), can serve as conduits for aligning research with community needs. These platforms can provide valuable inputs and foster collaboration between researchers and local actors, helping to refine and test innovations like intercropping across multiple seasons and locations. Early involvement of scaling partners, like the Department of Extension Services (DAES), NASFAM, K2TASO and Harvest Plus, is crucial for broad adoption and sustainability.

To achieve long-term impact, research should complement technical with social and organizational innovations, working with partners to identify obstacles, and strengthen the capacity of local networks to address those challenges. By engaging traditional authorities and integrating local knowledge systems, co-design efforts can link on-farm work and sustainable land management practices, such as contour farming and multipurpose forages, which protect the environment while enhancing agricultural productivity. By integrating regular feedback into local-level structures like the DAECC, the initiative ensures continuous knowledge exchange and collaboration and addresses farmers’ needs, laying the foundation for continuity in program transitions.

Featured image: Joyce Banda on her Mbili mbili trial sharing about the innovation and what it means to her with her fellow farmers during the farmers field day in Malawi. Photo by E. Mwale/IITA

Authors: Sabine Homann-Kee Tui, Katherine Snyder, Mazvita Chiduwa, Feyera Liben, Adane Tufa, Julius Manda, John O. Omondi, Michael Kinyua, Job Kihara, Gloriana Ndibalema