Practitioners’ Guide
Chapter 2: Annex A
ANNEX A: National Livelihood Zoning Example: Malawi (cont. from Chapter 2)
Individual Zone Descriptions
Central Karonga
A relatively productive maize and cassava zone that attracts migrant
labour from other parts of the country in most years. Less dependent on
maize than other northern zones. Livestock holdings, especially of
cattle, are high by national standards. Cash incomes are low, however,
since tobacco is not grown and the zone is remote from the country’s
larger urban markets.
Food
Crops
Maize
Cassava
S.Potato
Income
Food
Sources crops
Livestock
Other
Livestock Cattle,
Pigs
1
.
Western Rumphi/Mzimba
Food
Maize
Crops
Income Tobacco
Sources
Livestock Pigs
Cropping patterns are relatively undiversified, with a heavy reliance on
just two crops; maize and tobacco. The zone produces just about
enough to feed itself in an average year, so that crops sold out of the
zone post-harvest have to be replaced by imports later in the year.
Incomes tend to be higher than in non-tobacco-growing zones, but
there is little to fall back on should the tobacco crop fail. There are
above average opportunities for collecting wild foods, given the
17
. proximity of the Nyika National Park and Vwaza Game Reserve. The
zone also benefits from its proximity to the neighbouring Nkhatabay Cassava zone,
a potential source of employment in bad years.
Mzimba Self-Sufficient
Food
Crops
Income
Sources
Maize
Cassava
Tobacco
Food
crops
Livestock
Livestock Cattle
Goats
8
.
This is a relatively diversified zone, with food and income generated
from a variety of sources. Good yields are obtained for a range of
crops, of which maize and cassava are the most important. There are
three main sources of income for the zone; sale of food crops, sale of
livestock and sale of tobacco. Cattle holdings are significant. Tobacco
is grown by most households, although in smaller quantities than
elsewhere, with the result that the zone is less dependent upon this
one crop than other tobacco growing areas.
Nkhata Bay Cassava Zone
Food
Crops
Income
Sources
Cassava
Maize
Food
crops
Other
Livestock Cattle
(few)
With high rainfall but poor soils, cassava is the dominant crop in this
zone. The zone can be characterised as ‘food-rich’ but ‘cash-poor’,
since there are few sources of income available besides the sale of
crops, and there is only a limited market for the bitter variety of cassava
grown in the zone. Maize, rice and bananas are grown in addition to
cassava, and the sale of these also contributes significantly to local
incomes. Given its drought resistance, cassava plays a key role in
9
. ensuring zonal food security, with the zone attracting migrant labour
from other zones when these are affected by food shortages.
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
This is a relatively productive but undiversified maize and tobacco zone.
In an average year the zone produces a surplus of food and maize,
groundnuts, sweet potatoes and soya beans are sold out of the zone,
mainly to Lilongwe. Tobacco is the single most important cash-crop,
providing the majority of income for most households and explaining
why incomes in the zone are relatively high compared to elsewhere in
the country.
Food
Maize
Crops
Tobacco
Income
Sources
Livestock Cattle
Goats
3
.
Southern Lakeshore
Food Crops Maize
Rice
Income
Fishing
Sources
Fishing ganyu
Malawi Example Continued 15
This is the principal fishing area of Malawi, with the shallow
waters to the south of the lake favouring the participation of
many small scale fishermen. Fishing dominates the economy,
generating income through fish sales, ganyu and trading in fish.
.
1
Practitioners’ Guide
Livestock
Fish trading
Goats
Chapter 2: Annex A
Crop production is also important but is insufficient to cover local food
requirements in most years, a situation that is made worse by the postharvest sale of crops by many households.
Shire Highlands
Food Crops Maize
Cassava
Income
Food crops
Other
Livestock
Goats
14
Landholdings are small in this most densely populated zone in
the country. The zone produces roughly enough to feed itself in
most years. However, income generating opportunities are
limited and many households sell quite a high proportion of their
production post-harvest to obtain cash, becoming heavily
dependent on the market later in the year. Crop production is
relatively undiversified, with quite heavy dependence upon
. maize supplemented to a limited extent by cassava.
Middle Shire Valley
Food Crops Maize
Pulses
Rice
Income
Food crops
Other
Cotton
Livestock
Cattle (few)
Goats
6
This is a relatively dry mid-lowland area with winter cropping and
fishing along the Shire River. It is similar to a number of other
southern zones in that total production at zonal level is enough
to achieve rough self-sufficiency in staple food. Quite a high
proportion of production is sold post-harvest by most households
however, and this has to be replaced by purchases later in the
year. A range of crops are grown, including cotton, but low prices
. limit the income from this important cash crop.
Palombe Plain/Lake Chilwa
Food Crops Maize
Pulses
Rice
Income
Other
Sources
Food crops
Livestock
Goats
Pigs
4
Like the neighbouring Shire Highlands zone, this quite densely
populated zone produces roughly enough to feed itself in most
years. Income generating opportunities are equally limited, so
that food crops are again sold post-harvest to obtain cash, and
have to be replaced by purchases later in the year. Crop
production is more diversified than in the Shire Highlands, with
maize, rice and pulses the main staple food crops grown.
.
Thyolo Mulanje Tea Estates
Food Crops Maize
Bananas
Estate work
Income
Sources
Banana sales
Fruit and veg.
Livestock
Insignificant
16
This zone is dominated by large tea estates, which generate
both formal employment and casual labour for a majority of
households in the zone. Landholdings are very small and the
zone is a food deficit area with a high dependence upon food
purchase. The zone benefits from good access to neighbouring
Mozambique, a source of relatively cheap maize in both good
and bad years.
.
Lower Shire Valley
Food Crops Maize
Rice
Sorghum
Millet
Income
Food crops
Cotton
Livestock
Livestock
Cattle
Goats
Malawi Example Continued
5
This hot dry lowland zone is nonetheless relatively productive by
the standards of southern Malawi. A variety of crops are grown
during both the main and winter seasons, with winter crops
cultivated in wetlands beside the Shire river. Cotton is the zone’s
major cash crop. Cattle holdings are significant in the zone. The
zone benefits from good access to neighbouring Mozambique, a
source of relatively cheap maize in both good and bad years.
.
2
Practitioners’ Guide
Chapter 2: Annex A
Malawi: Table listing administrative level 4 units (EPAs) by livelihood zone
District
Livelihood Zone
Balaka
Middle Shire Valley
Rift Valley Escarpment
Blantyre
Middle Shire Valley
Shire Highlands
Chikwawa Lower Shire
Chiradzulu Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Shire Highlands
Chitipa
Chitipa Millet and Maize
Misuku Hills
Dedza
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Dowa
Karonga
Kasungu
Likoma
Lilongwe
Rift Valley Escarpment
Southern Lakeshore
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Central Karonga
Nkhatabay Cassava
Northern Karonga
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Northern Lakeshore
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Machinga
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Middle Shire Valley
Shire Highlands
Mangochi Phililongwe Hills
Shire Highlands
Southern Lakeshore
Mchinji
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Mulanje
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Thyolo Mulanje Tea
Estates
Mwanza
Middle Shire Valley
Rift Valley Escarpment
Mzimba
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Mzimba Self-Sufficient
Nkhatabay Cassava
Western Rumphi &
Mzimba
Nkhatabay Nkhatabay Cassava
Northern Lakeshore
Nkhotakota Nkhatabay Cassava
Northern Lakeshore
Rift Valley Escarpment
Nsanje
Lower Shire
Ntcheu
Rift Valley Escarpment
Ntchisi
Phalombe
Southern Lakeshore
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Malawi Example Continued
EPAs (EPAs that are split between LZs are shown in
italics)
Mpilisi, Phalula, Ulongwe
Bazale, Mpilisi, Phalula, Ulongwe
Lirangwe
Ntonda
Dolo, Kalambo, Livunzu, Mbewe, Mikalango, Mitole
Thumbwe
Thumbwe, Mombezi
Chisenga, Kavukuku, Lufita, Mwamkumbwa
Misuku
Chafumba, Kabwazi, Kanyama, Kaphuka, Linthipe, Mayani,
Bembeke, Lobi
Mtakataka
Mtakataka
Bowe, Chisepo, Chivala, Madisi, Mndolera, Mponela, Mvera,
Nachisaka
Karonga Central
Karonga South
Kaporo North, Kaporo South
Chamama, Chulu, Kaluluma, Kasungu Chipala, Lisasadzi, Santhe
Likoma Chizumulu
Chilaza, Demela, Kambanizithe, Ming'ongo, Mlomba, M'ngwangwa,
Mpingu, Nakachoka, Nthondo, Sinyala, Ukwe, Mpenu, Chigonthi,
Chitekwele, Chitsime, Chiwamba
Chikweo, Nampeya, Nanyumbu, Nsanama
Mbonechera
Mbonechera, Nyambi
Chilipa, Mbwadzulu, Mtiramanja, Namkumba, Nasenga
Katuli, Lungwena, Maiwa, Masuku, Ntiya
Lungwena, Maiwa, Mbwadzulu, Mpilipili, Namkumba, Nasenga
Chioshya, Kalulu, Mikundi, Mkanda, Mlonyeni, Msitu
Mulanje South, Mulanje West
Mulanje South
Lisungwi, Mwanza
Lisungwi, Mwanza, Neno
Emfeni
Bulala, Champhira, Eswazini, Manyamula, Mbawa, Mjinge
Khosolo
Euthini
Chikwina, Chintheche, Chitheka, Mpamba, Nkhatabay, Chikwina
Chintheche, Nkhatabay
Nkhunga, Zidyana
Nkhunga, Linga, Zidyana
Linga, Mwansambo, Nkhunga, Zidyana
Magoti, Makhanga, Mpatsa, Nsanje, Nyachilenda
Bilira, Golomoti, Kandeu, Manjawira, Nsipe, Sharpevale, Njolomole,
Tsangano
Golomoti
Chipuka, Kalira, Malomo, Ntchisi Boma
Kasongo, Mpinda, Naminjiwa, Tamani, Kasongo, Naminjiwa,
3
Practitioners’ Guide
Rumphi
Salima
Thyolo
Zomba
Chapter 2: Annex A
Plain
Mzimba Self Sufficient
Nkhatabay Cassava
Western Rumphi &
Mzimba
Rift Valley Escarpment
Southern Lakeshore
Shire Highlands
Thyolo Mulanje Tea
Estates
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Middle Shire Valley
Shire Highlands
Nkhulambe, Tamani, Waruma
Bwengu, Zombwe
Mphompha, Ntchenachena, Mphompha, Ntchenachena, Muhuju
Bolero, Mpherembe
Chinguluwe, Chipoka, Khombedza, Tembwe
Chipoka, Khombedza, Tembwe
Matapwata
Masambanjati, Thyolo Boma
Mpokwe, Msondole, Ntubwi, Mayaka Ngwerero
Ntubwi, Chingale
Dzaone, Ntubwi, Chingale, Malosa, Thondwe
Malawi: Breakdown of 2003 population by district and livelihood zone
DISTRICT
Livelihood Zone
BALAKA
Middle Shire Valley
Rift Valley Escarpment
BLANTYRE
Middle Shire Valley
Shire Highlands
CHIKWAWA
Lower Shire
CHIRADZULU
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Shire Highlands
CHITIPA
Chitipa Millet and Maize
Misuku Hills
DEDZA
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Rift Valley Escarpment
Southern Lakeshore
DOWA
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
KARONGA
Central Karonga
Nkhatabay Cassava
Northern Karonga
KASUNGU
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
LIKOMA
Northern Lakeshore
LILONGWE
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
MACHINGA
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe
Plain
Middle Shire Valley
Malawi Example Continued
DISTRICT
Population % of total
286,723
104,805
37%
181,918
63%
340,371
162,442
48%
177,929
52%
412,800
412,800
100%
266,011
101,255
38%
164,756
147,730
112,620
35,110
562,823
513,566
24,629
24,629
457,426
457,426
223,507
43,254
71,699
108,554
569,581
569,581
9,482
9,482
1,051,430
1,051,430
409,298
260,029
46,312
Livelihood Zone
MULANJE
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe Plain
Thyolo Mulanje Tea Estates
MWANZA
Middle Shire Valley
Rift Valley Escarpment
MZIMBA
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Mzimba Self Sufficient
Nkhatabay Cassava
62% Western Rumphi & Mzimba
NKHATABAY
76% Nkhatabay Cassava
24% Northern Lakeshore
NKHOTAKOTA
91% Nkhatabay Cassava
4% Northern Lakeshore
4% Rift Valley Escarpment
NSANJE
100% Lower Shire
NTCHEU
19% Rift Valley Escarpment
32% Southern Lakeshore
49% NTCHISI
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
100% PHALOMBE
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe Plain
100% RUMPHI
Mzimba Self Sufficient
100% Nkhatabay Cassava
Western Rumphi & Mzimba
64% SALIMA
11% Rift Valley Escarpment
Population % of total
490,920
346,187
71%
144,733
29%
157,740
39,365
25%
118,375
75%
562,541
75,042
13%
402,086
71%
21,134
4%
64,278
183,885
107,461
76,424
266,909
35,221
97,201
134,487
218,079
218,079
428,387
411,861
16,526
200,712
200,712
270,467
270,467
142,738
52,790
38,915
51,033
298,099
169,321
4
11%
58%
42%
13%
36%
50%
100%
96%
4%
100%
100%
37%
27%
36%
57%
Practitioners’ Guide
Shire Highlands
MANGOCHI
Phililongwe Hills
Shire Highlands
Southern Lakeshore
MCHINJI
Kasungu Lilongwe Plain
Chapter 2: Annex A
102,956
690,644
205,584
261,415
223,645
381,335
381,335
25% Southern Lakeshore
THYOLO
30% Shire Highlands
38% Thyolo Mulanje Tea Estates
32% ZOMBA
Lake Chilwa/Phalombe Plain
100% Middle Shire Valley
Shire Highlands
128,778
523,162
18,565
504,597
542,270
177,445
52,046
312,779
Source: Malawi VAC and NSO
Malawi Example Continued
5
43%
4%
96%
33%
10%
58%