THE IMPACTS OF THE RAINFALL VARIABILITY ON MAIZE YIELDS IN MANGOCHI DISTRICT

Climate variability and change are already affecting Malawi, which has experienced a greater incidence of dry spells and intense rainfall events over the last two decades. The changes have led to an increase in the frequency of floods and droughts, with severe economic and social consequences. With projected increases in temperatures, more erratic precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Malawi become more strained (Malawi adaptation fact sheet, 2012). Rainfall is the main weather element for rain-fed agriculture. Supplemental irrigation, crop diversification and natural conservation methods are promising adaptation strategies to improve Malawi’s food security and socioeconomic stability. This study has observed the impacts of rainfall variability on maize yields in Mangochi. The study has been conducted at Traditional Authority (T/A) Namkumba at Monkey bay. The main objective of this study is to provide better understanding on the yields of maize as a result of rainfall variability in Mangochi district. The specific objectives are: (1) to observe the impacts of rainfall variability on maize yields in Mangochi, (2) to analyze the causes of rainfall variability in Mangochi district, (3) to find the ways how the impacts of rainfall variability on maize can be minimized and (4) to observe the trends of rainfall. The rainfall data was collected from the department of climate change and meteorological services (DCCMS) and estimated crop yields for maize was collected from district agricultural development office in Mangochi district. The data collected has been analyzed by tables, plotting graphs and charts. The data has also been analyzed by calculating the average and standard deviation of the rainfall amount and maize production. The finding of this study is that with the trends of rainfall the maize yields have some fluctuations in response to varying rainfall of the area (Monkey Bay in
Mangochi).

With projected increases in temperatures, more erratic precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Malawi become more strained (Malawi adaptation fact sheet, 2012). The specific objectives are: (1) to observe the impacts of rainfall variability on maize yields in Mangochi, (2) to analyze the causes of rainfall variability in Mangochi district, (3) to find the ways how the impacts of rainfall variability on maize can be minimized and (4) to observe the trends of rainfall. The rainfall data was collected from the department of climate change and meteorological services (DCCMS) and estimated crop yields for maize was collected from district agricultural development office in Mangochi district. The finding of this study is that with the trends of rainfall the maize yields have some fluctuations in response to varying rainfall of the area (Monkey Bay in
Mangochi).

Study area of this research was Mangochi. Mangochi is at an elevation of 1,541 feet (470m), near the Southern end of Lake Malawi between the main lakeshore road and the Shire River and 5 miles (8 km) south of its entrance into the Lake Malombe. The town is roughly 120 miles (190km) northeast of Blantyre. The district has the human population of 1,148,611 according to the National Statistical Office (NSO) (2018). There are 603, 111 females representing 52.5% of the whole population and there are 545,500 males representing 47.5% of the whole population. The study targeted the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Namkumba at Monkey bay. This area has the human population of 159,654 (National Statistical Office (NSO), 2018). 78,019 are males and
81,635 are females.

Traditional authority: TA Nankumba

District: Mangochi

Coordinates: -14.28595, 34.9228