An insight of chickpea production potential, utilization and their challenges among smallholder farmers in Malawi – A review

Abstract

Chickpea is a popular high-protein and high-fiber food but their potential is underutilized in Malawi due to a lack of improved varieties and a knowledge gap. However, Malawi has potential environments for chickpea cultivation, driven by new market demands and the need for more protein. Furthermore, smallholder farmers can easily take up the crop as the management strategies are similar to other legume crops with minor differences. Despite low yields in the country, chickpea has the potential to address malnutrition problems once school feeding programs integrate them. Chickpea production is aligned with the vision 2063 aspirations of adapting to climate change as the crop can save under different cropping systems. Research can plays a key role in the production and promotion of chickpeas to farmers in Malawi, through the provision of valuable information and guidance of chickpea management in conjunction with extension services. IT discipline can provides vital technology-based solutions to various challenges in chickpea production such as mobile apps, web-based platforms, and decision support systems, which can provide farmers with real-time information on weather, crop diseases, and market prices. The crop mirror all the potential in meeting Malawi’s development and strategic goals.