To Examine the Status and Determinants of Household Food Security, Resilience and Poverty in the Cocoyam Value Chain in Nkhata Bay, Malawi

Abstract

Feston Singoyi, Ulemu Musiska, Frank Mnthambala and Allan Pheremelo Kumwenda

Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) remains a neglected and underutilized crop in Malawi despite its documented potential for food security and poverty reduction. This study examined the status and determinants of household food security, resilience, and poverty in the cocoyam value chain in Nkhata Bay District. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and situated within a critical realist paradigm, the study employed a convergent mixed-methods design. Data were collected from 390 farmers, 20 vendors, 15 transporters and 50 consumers as respondents across five Extension Planning Areas through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that 90% of respondents affirm cocoyam's contribution to food security, with 38.1% consuming it daily and 81% relying on it as an alternative during food shortages.

Wetland access emerged as a critical determinant, with wetland cultivators reporting significantly higher daily consumption (48.4%) compared to upland producers (24.5%). However, value addition remains minimal, with 90% consuming cocoyam only in boiled form, and only 28% generating income from sales, indicating unrealized poverty reduction potential. The study concludes that while cocoyam plays a significant role in household food security and resilience, its contribution to poverty reduction is constrained by weak value chains and institutional neglect. Addressing these constraints through targeted extension, value addition interventions, and policy reorientation could enhance the crop's contribution to sustainable livelihoods in Malawi. Providing cocoyam food recipe for local communities by NGOs and government nutritional agencies in order to inculcate food diversification mentality other than relying on cassava, maize as staple foods

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