Socio-Economic Benefits and Challenges of Oil Palm Production Among Indigenous Rural Farmers in Karonga District, Malawi

Abstract

Oil palm production (Elaeis guineensis) presents significant opportunities for the rural population to alleviate poverty through agriculture. This study investigated the socio-economic benefits and challenges of oil palm production among indigenous rural farmers in the Karonga District, Malawi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating data collected through questionnaire, interview, and focus group discussion guides. The questionnaire was administered to 477 households engaged in oil palm production. Further, 10 key informants were interviewed, and 4 focus group discussions were formed. Guided by the Theory of Access, examining oil palm production’s importance for sustaining indigenous rural farmers’ livelihoods revealed a multifaceted role in addressing food through cooking oil production, creating employment opportunities, and meeting other basic needs. Despite these benefits, challenges such as access to market, farm equipment, information and extension services, and credit persist, hindering production and socio-economic progress. Again, the Spearman rho correlation analysis between acres of land cultivated and benefits from oil palm production revealed -.140 with a sig value of 0.000, signifying that as more acres of land farmers cultivate, benefits tend to reduce moderately. The researcher, therefore, recommends that the MoA collaborate with other stakeholders in the agriculture sector, including financial institutions and the manufacturing industry, in the provision of extension services as a means of information access, creating the market, and providing credits to indigenous rural farmers so that they can invest and buy equipment necessary for this agricultural activity.