Agroforestry
Case studies of nurseries in Malawi
Seed Systems of Agroforestry in Malawi.
Authors:
M. Namoto; M.G. Likoswe; P.M. Mvula (ed); University of Copenhagen
Publisher:
World Agroforestry Centre , 2007
The purpose of this assessment was to let the small nurseries in Malawi explain in their own words how they manage the following aspects of their nursery work:
- Deciding on species to collect and mother tree
- Number of mother trees and flowering trees around
- Collection of seed
- Output and distribution (markets)
- Nursery management options
- Customers
- General opportunities
Based on the above points, trained research assistants were given questionnaires to interview nursery owners who were randomly selected from 360 nurseries in 6 districts in Malawi. The following were some of the findings:
- A mother tree decision is based on whether the species dries very quickly for fuel wood and can provide for poles in the construction of houses with iron sheets
- Number of mother trees and flowering trees around depend on the type of species others can be collected from a single tree or a number of closely spaced on a collection site
- Seeds may be collected by climbing up the trees to pluck the mature fruits or cutting down branches with an axe or a panga knife whilst others just collect wildlings from river banks
- Customers purchasing these seedlings are organisations and individuals mostly from within the village or nearby villages as they also advertise the seedlings on the roadsides.
