Assessing the Impact of Crop Diversification on Crop Productivity Among Smallholder Farmers in Malawi

This study assesses the impact of crop diversification on crop productivity among smallholder farmers in Malawi, focusing on the interplay of socioeconomic and agronomic factors. Using cross-sectional data from the 2019–2020 Fifth Integrated Household Survey (IHS5), which includes 11,434 observations, a logit regression model was employed to analyse the determinants of crop productivity. Key independent variables included crop diversification, type of fertilizer, farm asset ownership, crop variety, educational level, age, gender, and household size. Diagnostic tests, including the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, confirmed the model's suitability and robustness. Results reveal that crop diversification significantly enhances productivity by mitigating risks and optimizing resource use, while factors such as fertilizer type, farm assets, and household size also exhibit positive and significant effects. Conversely, excessive crop variety negatively affects productivity, highlighting the need for an optimal balance in crop selection. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers to promote diversification strategies, improve access to inputs, and strengthen extension services to enhance smallholder productivity. These findings underscore the importance of tailored agricultural interventions in achieving sustainable growth in Malawi’s agricultural sector.