Agriculture and Food Security
The District Agriculture Development Office has 7 Extension Planning Areas (EPA) namely Kasitu Nkhunga, Mphonde, Linga, Zidyana, Mtosa and Mwansambo. The EPAs are further sub-divided into agricultural extension sections, which is the lowest level of administration and are of relatively homogeneous agro-ecological conditions. A link between the extension worker and the farmers is established through the creation of blocks and farmers groups. A block is organised on a sub section basis and becomes a unit of agricultural operations. There are organised 76 sections and 608 blocks with a total of 71644 Farm Families (2008).
The main crops grown in the district are maize, cassava, rice, cotton, tobacco (burley). Cassava and maize are the main food crops while tobacco, rice, and cotton are cash crops. The area planted with district’s main crops cover about 55 percent of cultivable land for the district. The district also produces the following minor crops: groundnuts, beans, soya, Chillies, millets, sorghum, cow peas, paprika and sweet potatoes. These crops are mostly grown by smallholder farmers and are primarily for food, except for Chillies and paprika, which are sold for cash.
Livestock plays a very important role in Nkhotakota’s smallholder agriculture in providing a source of protein, manure and to a limited extent, draught power. While livestock management is mainly traditional, stall-feeding and breeding programmes are being promoted. Livestock development efforts have led to the introduction of the improved Boer Goat, Black Australorp (mikolongwe chicken), Brahman cattle, and the Guinea fowl. There are continued efforts to further develop and improve the quality and number of livestock in the district through cross breeding.
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