An exploratory study of land use, management and degradation: West Malombe cathment, Mangochi Rop, Malawi

Because of the general lack of success of rural development in most developing countries, including Malawi, the findings of this research suggest that a thorough investigation of peasant knowledge and motivation regarding their land use choice and its reflection in the spatial arrangement of land use pattern and management is absolutely necessary. The study has identified several land use options and a range of socio-economic choice factors. The level of production for the various smallholder land use activities reflects the different level of land management. The role of agricultural extension service as the main channel/source of proper land husbandry information is conspicuously underlined. Furthermore, the study reveals that the peasantry has a wealth of indigenous environmental knowledge. In the light of the research results, the importance of micro-studies of this nature is underscored to provide policy makers with location-specific knowledge and hence execute more relevant land use and management practices.