This work was done to address the huge decline of banana value chain in Malawi mainly due to Banana Bunchy Top Disease. Prevalence of several factors comprising poor soil fertility management, lack of nutrient and moisture conservation practices, inadequate control of prevailing pests and diseases, insufficient production and progressive pressure on local germplasm was revealed. Integrated crop management practices were designed and applied to several collected banana local cultivars. In parallel, hands-on capacity building for extension workers, lead farmers and farmers was performed using the Farmer Field School approach in 10 districts of Malawi. The process led to increased communities’ knowledge and understanding of the challenges and the appropriate solutions.

From the 15 local cultivars collected, 12 reached the production stage at the 3 residential training centres of Mzuzu, Lisasadzi and Thuchira. Higher yield levels were attained under integrated crop management practices as compared to unimproved farmers’ practices. Moreover, the main diseases and pests were efficiently controlled in the various sites of the study applying the integrated practices. Higher yield levels combined with efficient disease control has induced motivation among the farmers to adopt the integrated package. By the end of 2021, 232 community learning and multiplication sites had been established with 68,142 clean banana suckers planted on a cumulative surface of 61 hectares. The established plots serve both for season-long training of extension workers and farmers while production of clean suckers provides locally affordable planting materials for farmers.

This study aimed to understand the morphological and physicochemical characteristics of the soil in swidden land-use areas at three mountainous locations to promote modern agriculture. Most soil samples were classified as Inceptisols because of steep slopes and possibly limited time for the formation of the argillic horizon; however, slightly acidic soil, potentially equivalent to Alfisols, dominated the Bago Mountains. The soil in Paunglaung and Pinlaung in the southern Shan Highlands exhibited slight to moderate acidity under the ustic soil moisture regime. Although most soil samples were classified as Inceptisols due to the limited time for soil development on steep slopes, the physicochemical properties of soil were essentially similar to those of Alfisols and Ultisols in the presence or absence of limestone, respectively. The soil depths were consistently high in the Bago Mountains, which is potentially advantageous for continuous cropping on steep slopes in the future. Agroforestry systems using crops that can tolerate high pH and perennial trees in sloping land could be a favorable option in the Bago Mountains. Home gardens and fruit orchards, such as those of bananas, pineapples, and papaya, could be favorable to lime the soil in Paunglaung. The shallow, acidic soil in the steep slope area of Pinlaung can be properly utilized by establishing tea orchards, while the soil in gentle slope cropland areas could be made suitable for horticulture by adding dolomite lime to improve magnesium deficiency and neutralize acidity.