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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

David Spielman

David Spielman is the director of IFPRI’s Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit and has been with the institute since 2004. His research agenda covers a range of topics including agriculture and rural development policy; agricultural science, technology, and innovation; plant genetic resources and seed systems; agricultural extension and advisory services; and community-driven rural development.

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Development Strategies and Governance

Edwin Siyame

Research Analyst

Bio

Edwin Siyame is a Research Analyst in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, based in IFPRI’s Malawi office, where he supports the IFPRI team in conducting research on various issues to generate evidence to influence policy changes and reviews. Edwin has worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). He holds a PhD in nutrition from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in human nutrition (public health) from London Metropolitan University, and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture (human nutrition and food science) from the University of Malawi.

Languages: English, basic French

Development Strategies and Governance

Publications

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Other

The impact of site-specific soil fertility recommendations: Experimental evidence from Malawi

2024Van Campenhout, Bjorn; De Weerdt, Joachim; Assefa, Thomas; Spielman, David J.; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Ariong, Richard M.; Atkinson, Jonathan
Details

The impact of site-specific soil fertility recommendations: Experimental evidence from Malawi

Raising agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa is widely recognized as an important component of inclusive wealth creation and structural transformation. Central to this endeavor will be the adoption of sustainable soil and land management to improve the sustainability, resilience and productivity of agriculture. As such, government advise farmers to increase soil productivity by embracing the use of fertilizers and implement proper soil health management practices. However, these recommendations mostly come in the form of blanket one-size-fits-all recommendations that ignore heterogeneity in soil characteristics that individual farmers face. Using a cluster randomize control trial, we evaluate the impact of a bundled intervention that involves offering farmers a soil test on a plot they select and, using the results of this soil test, provide them with tailored advise on soil management to attain a desired yield for a particular crop the farmer chooses to plant on the plot. Furthermore, we also explore resources constraints as a potential barrier to the adoption of site specific fertilizer blends by adding a subsidy. JEL codes: O33, Q12, Q16

Year published

2024

Authors

Van Campenhout, Bjorn; De Weerdt, Joachim; Assefa, Thomas; Spielman, David J.; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Ariong, Richard M.; Atkinson, Jonathan

Citation

Van Campenhout, Bjorn; De Weerdt, Joachim; Assefa, Thomas; Spielman, David J.; Siyame, Edwin; Ariong, Richard; and Atkinson, Jonathan. 2024. The impact of site-specific soil fertility recommendations: Experimental evidence from Malawi. AEA RCT Registry. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14293-2.0

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Africa; Agricultural Extension; Decision-support Systems; Inorganic Fertilizer; Soil Analysis

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14293-2.0 Source record

Record type

Other

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Journal Article

Dietary mineral supplies in Africa

2014
Joy, Edward J. M.; Ander, E. Louise; Young, Scott D.; Black, Colin R.; Watts, Michael J.; Chilimba, Allan D. C.; Chilima, Benson; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.
…more Stein, Alexander J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; White, Philip J.; Broadley, Martin R.
Details

Dietary mineral supplies in Africa

Dietary micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) are widespread, yet their prevalence can be difficult to assess. Here, we estimateMNDrisks due to inadequate intakes for seven minerals in Africa using food supply and composition data, and consider the potential of food‐based and agricultural interventions. Food Balance Sheets (FBSs) for 46 countries were integrated with food composition data to estimate per capita supply of calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), iodine (I), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), and also phytate. Deficiency risks were quantified using an estimated average requirement (EAR) ‘cut‐point’ approach. Deficiency risks are highest for Ca (54% of the population), followed by Zn (40%), Se (28%) and I (19%, after accounting for iodized salt consumption). The risk of Cu (1%) and Mg (<1%) deficiency are low. Deficiency risks are generally lower in the north and west of Africa. MultipleMNDrisks are high in many countries. The population‐weighted mean phytate supply is 2770 mg capita−1day−1. Deficiency risks for Fe are lower than expected (5%). However, ‘cut‐point’ approaches for Fe are sensitive to assumptions regarding requirements; e.g. estimates of Fe deficiency risks are 43% under very low bioavailability scenarios consistent with high‐phytate, low‐animal protein diets. Fertilization and breeding strategies could greatly reduce certainMNDs. For example, meetingHarvestPlusbreeding targets for Zn would reduce dietary Zn deficiency risk by 90% based on supply data. Dietary diversification or direct fortification is likely to be needed to address Ca deficiency risks.

Year published

2014

Authors

Joy, Edward J. M.; Ander, E. Louise; Young, Scott D.; Black, Colin R.; Watts, Michael J.; Chilimba, Allan D. C.; Chilima, Benson; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Stein, Alexander J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; White, Philip J.; Broadley, Martin R.

Citation

Joy, Edward J.M.; Ander, E. Louise; Young, Scott D.; Black, Colin R.; Watts, Michael J.; Chilimba, Allan DC; Chilima, Benson; Siyame, Edwin W.P.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Stein, Alexander J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; White, Philip J.; and Broadley, Martin R. 2014. Dietary mineral supplies in Africa. Physiologia Plantarum 151(3): 208-229. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12144

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Nutrients; Mineral Nutrients; Mineral Supplements

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-3.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12144 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi

2013
Hurst, Rachel; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Young, Scott D.; Chilimba, Allan D.C.; Joy, Edward J.M.; Black, Colin R.; Ander, E. Louise; Watts, Michael J.; Chilima, Benson; Gondwe, Jellita
…more Kang’ombe, Dalitso; Stein, Alexander J.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Broadley, Martin R.
Details

Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi

Selenium (Se) is an essential human micronutrient with critical roles in immune functioning and antioxidant defence. Estimates of dietary Se intakes and status are scarce for Africa although crop surveys indicate deficiency is probably widespread in Malawi. Here we show that Se deficiency is likely endemic in Malawi based on the Se status of adults consuming food from contrasting soil types. These data are consistent with food balance sheets and composition tables revealing that >80% of the Malawi population is at risk of dietary Se inadequacy. Risk of dietary Se inadequacy is >60% in seven other countries in Southern Africa and 22% across Africa as a whole. Given that most Malawi soils cannot supply sufficient Se to crops for adequate human nutrition, the cost and benefits of interventions to alleviate Se deficiency should be determined; for example, Se-enriched nitrogen fertilisers could be adopted as in Finland.

Year published

2013

Authors

Hurst, Rachel; Siyame, Edwin W. P.; Young, Scott D.; Chilimba, Allan D.C.; Joy, Edward J.M.; Black, Colin R.; Ander, E. Louise; Watts, Michael J.; Chilima, Benson; Gondwe, Jellita; Kang’ombe, Dalitso; Stein, Alexander J.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; Broadley, Martin R.

Citation

Hurst, Rachel; Siyame, Edwin W.P.; Young, Scott D.; Chilimba, Allan D.C.; Joy, Edward J.M.; Black, Colin R.; Ander, E. Louise; Watts, Michael J.; Chilima, Benson; Gondwe, Jellita; Kang’ombe, Dalitso; Stein, Alexander J.; Fairweather-Tait, Susan J.; Gibson, Rosalind S.; Kalimbira, Alexander A.; and Broadley, Martin R. 2013. Soil-type influences human selenium status and underlies widespread selenium deficiency risks in Malawi. Scientific Reports 3: 1425. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01425

Country/Region

Malawi

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Selenium; Trace Elements; Antioxidants; Deficiency Diseases; Soil Types; Immune System; Human Pathology; Crops

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-3.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01425 Source record

Record type

Journal Article