MITIGATING HIV AND AIDS IMPACTS THROUGH AGRO-FORESTRY PRACTICES

Abstract

Throughout the world the impacts of HIV and AIDS are being felt at all levels-individual, household, community, national, regional and international. The impacts are felt more in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where poverty levels are very high. Malawi just like all other countries in SSA is experiencing serious problems of HIV and AIDS as well as high levels of poverty. In responding to the impacts of HIV and AIDS and poverty, there are a number of agricultural based responses that are being promoted ranging from technological adaptation to agroforestry systems. Kasungu Chipala and Chulu Extension Planning Areas have benefited from International Centre for Research in Agroforestry’s (ICRAF) agroforestry scaling up programs in the past fifteen years. The specific objective of the study was to assess whether agroforestry contributed to increases in maize yields of HIV and AIDS affected households. Data was collected using household survey questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The results showed that households practicing agroforestry were obtaining higher maize yields as compared to households that were not practicing agroforestry. The study concludes that households affected by HIV and AIDS need to practice agroforestry for achievement of food security. The recommendation is that there is need for more scaling up of agroforestry technologies in the face of exorbitant prices for inorganic fertilizers.