Abstract:
Legume species are uniquely suited to enhance soil productivity and provide nutrient-enriched grains
and vegetables for limited-resource farmers. Yet substantial barriers to diversification with legumes exist,
such as moderate yield potential and establishment costs, indicating the need for long-term engagement
and farmer-centered research and extension. This review and in-depth analysis of a Malawian case
study illustrates that farmer experimentation and adoption of legumes can be fostered among even the
most resource-poor smallholders. Multi-educational activities and participatory research involving farmer
research teamswas carried out with 80communities.Over five years more than 3000 farmers tested legumes
and gained knowledge of legume contributions to child nutrition and soil productivity. The average area
of expansion of legume systems was 862m2 in 2005; 772m2 for women and 956m2 for men indicating
a gender dimension to legume adoption. Farmers chose edible legume intercrops such as pigeonpea and
groundnut over the mucuna green manure system, particularly women farmers. Interestingly, expansion
in area of doubled-up edible legumes (854m2 in 2005) was practiced by more farmers, but was a smaller
area than that of mucuna green manure system (1429m2). An information gap was discovered around
the biological consequences of legume residue management. Education on the soil benefits of improved
residue management and participatory methods of knowledge sharing were associated with enhanced
labour investment; 72% of farmers reported burying legume residues in 2005 compared to 15% in 2000.
Households reported feeding significantly more edible legumes to their children compared with control
households. Participatory research that incorporated nutritional education fostered discussions within
households and communities, the foundation for sustained adoption of legume-diversified systems.