Wetland Farming Systems in The Context of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Potential in Malawi

Abstract

Malawi is endowed with wetland ecosystems that provide essential services to the country’s people and the environment. As in the rest of the world, however, the wetlands are facing a challenge to sustain their services due to, among others, a lack of research-based evidence to support a farming system that balances food production and efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This chapter critically analyses the link between Malawi’s dominant wetland farming systems and GHG emissions. It addresses the following research questions: To what extent will converting wetlands for aquaculture and rice production contribute to GHG emissions, and what could be the potential implications? Given the trade-offs in climate change mitigation efforts and food production, to what extent will the integration of the two farming systems mitigate GHG emissions? The chapter instigates debate to uncover much-needed data on how much GHG Malawi’s wetland farming has contributed to global emissions, its implications, and future interventions.