Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Geography and Environment
Collaborative Specialization
Environment and Sustainability
Supervisor
Isaac Luginaah
Abstract
Climate change is a threat multiplier that significantly exacerbates the vulnerability of agrarian livelihoods, especially smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the predominantly agricultural context of Malawi, the frequency and intensity of climate-induced stressors such as frequent floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall and intra-seasonal dry spells have drastically undermined agricultural productivity, prompting the declaration of at least six states of emergency over the past decade. While there has been calls to improve adaptive capacities of smallholder farmers, seed insecurity—the inadequate access to sufficient, reliable, and affordable seeds of preferred varieties—in the region stands as a major barrier impeding farmers from unleashing other adaptive strategies amid the changing climate. Yet, there is little empirical evidence on the impact of seed insecurity in smallholder farming communities. Hinged on the geographies of vulnerability, resilience, and feminist political ecology, this study employed mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine seed security as a conduit for enhancing nutritional outcomes, climate change resilience, and empowerment in smallholder households in northern Malawi. Logistic regression analysis of survey data (n=1090) underscored that seed-secure households were significantly more likely to report stronger resilience to climate change than those that were not seed-secure, even after controlling for theoretically relevant variables (OR=1.89; p
Summary for Lay Audience
Climate change significantly worsens everyday struggles in Sub-Saharan Africa, where extreme weather events such as droughts, erratic rainfall, and floods are becoming more common. These challenges are acutely felt by smallholder farmers, especially in rain-fed regions like Malawi where the El Niño phenomenon exacerbates these issues with high rainfall variability and frequent climatic extremes, leading to crop failures, food insecurity, and economic difficulties. These challenges highlight the critical question of how to protect and enhance the resilience and adaptive capacities of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. While existing literature has suggested several strategies, secure access to seeds, considered the foundation of the agricultural system, remains a key challenge in Malawi, preventing farmers from applying other adaptive measures. This study aims to assess the role of seed security in improving resilience to climate change, as well as nutritional and empowerment outcomes. Using a mixed-methods approach, including a questionnaire survey (n=1090) and in-depth interviews (n=40), the study found that seed-secure households are more likely to report good resilience to climate change. Furthermore, seed security correlates with greater food security and dietary diversity. The qualitative data highlight benefits that gender-inclusive seed multiplication provide, including livelihood diversification, enhanced food and seed security, improved decision-making autonomy for women, increased male participation in challenging gender norms, and leadership roles following successful seed multiplication efforts. These findings provide evidence that interventions focused on seed security can positively impact nutrition, climate resilience, and women’s empowerment. This research advocates for a policy shift in Malawi that prioritizes seed security as a foundation for a resilient and sustainable agricultural future.
Recommended Citation
Amoak, Daniel, "The Role of Seed Security in Smallholder Farmers’ Household Nutrition, Climate Change Resilience and Empowerment in Northern Malawi" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10451.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10451