ISFM in the policy arena

A major factor that limits widespread adoption of ISFM is lack of innovative and bold policies addressing necessary facets for its promotion. Government policy should ensure that farm input manufacturers and suppliers, farmers, commodity buyers and processors, and development agents form strategic alliances and work together in mutually beneficial manner. The capacities of different actors must be strengthened for effective participation and contribution in public meetings geared at making informed input into ISFM policy formulation. All issues that constrain smallhold farmers’ access to farm inputs and commodity markets such as unstable prices, high cost of transport, lack of standard measures, irregular quality control, and development of effective producer organizations for increased bargaining power must be addressed. Other issues that bear on adoption and retention of ISFM such as subsidies, credit and loans, and effective workable contract laws are also important to mainstreaming ISFM. Very little progress has been made on elevating the importance of soil fertility issues. For instance, national soil fertility strategies have been developed in a few sub-Sahara African countries but with strong external influence and much focus on the role that mineral fertilizer could play. In fact, such strategies have been drafted in countries such as Burkina Faso. However, due to lack of public funds, the national assembly of most countries has not approved most of such strategies. High level lobbying of key stakeholders (including national governments and donors), championed by technocrats in the area of agricultural resource management and related disciplines, is necessary to move these drafts to the next level. Although it has taken long, policymakers are finally acknowledging the potential roles of organic resources and ISFM. New fertilizer strategies, where the science of ISFM plays a critical role, are being designed following the African Heads of State and Government Fertilizer Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria in June 2006 (Africa Fertilizer Summit 2006).

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