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ADDRESSING THE LINKS AMONG AGRICULTURE, MALARIA, AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA 133


Because malaria and agricultural development have a well-integrated relationship, integrated policies are best suited to address them.


• Aggressively disseminate information about the two-way interaction between malaria and agriculture. While most rural populations are aware of malaria as a serious illness and recognize the link between mosquitoes and the disease, fewer people understand the linkage between malaria and agriculture in terms of causation and impact. Information about the linkages, prevention practices, and treatments aimed at farmers and extension workers could lead to capacity-building activities. It should be an essential part of all rural agriculture and health projects. Similar information should accompany farm inputs (seeds, tools, fertilizers, and so forth) at purchase. Information should be geared particularly toward women, as they are often the primary agricultural producers.


• Intensify public health interventions just before and during the growing season. Researchers have noted that bouts of malaria particularly threaten livelihoods when they occur in the planting, growing, and harvesting seasons and that this is when they are most likely to occur. Effective timing of interventions (inocula- tions, clinic openings, information campaigns, and so forth) is thus crucial and likely to pay the greatest dividends.


• Conduct research to target interventions even further. Although information on malaria’s effects on agricultural productivity exists, it is inadequate due to the nature of the disease and the coping mechanisms that families adopt. Research can shed light on malaria’s direct negative effects on farm households’ food secu- rity, nutrition, and livelihood and could lead to more focused policy.


Concluding Remarks There is widespread recognition among African leaders, international organizations, and the donor community that improving agriculture’s productivity and income- generating capacity is essential to poverty reduction and economic growth. This means that malaria must be addressed. The disease’s impact on the agricultural sector is widely felt in Africa since about 70 percent of Africa’s population engages in agriculture. Ill health from malaria causes a decline in crop output, a reduction in the use of inputs, a decrease in area planted, changes in cropping patterns, and loss of agricultural knowledge. Unfortunately, agricultural practices and projects can increase the spread of malaria. Efforts to address the disease and improve agri- cultural development must take this two-way relationship into account.


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