Marketing support for ISFM

The adoption, retention and sustainable impacts of ISFM depend upon the extent to which it is profitable and fits into farming systems. Strengthening and increasing market opportunities for small-scale farmers and linking input-output markets constitutes one of the potential routes out of poverty in SSA and provides great opportunities for smallhold farmers and other interests along the production-to-consumption chain. In this way, it has the potential to reduce the risk of leaving small-scale African farmers behind as occurred with the earlier Green Revolution (Okigbo 1990; Hazell 2005). Linkages that allow farmers to simultaneously and reliably access a range of resources, services, and commodity buyers are critical if they are to survive in an increasingly competitive agricultural food market (Poulton et al. 2005). Much needs to be done to stimulate the profitable adoption of farm inputs, particularly among resource-poor farmers (Crawford et al. 2003) and calls for policy on linking input-output markets. Place et al. (2003) note that there is no direct evidence of the effect of the use of ISFM on markets for fertilizer and seed. Their analysis of indirect evidence, however, suggests that this link is potentially important. Although seeking to raise yields and outputs in small-farm agriculture is valid in contemporary poverty reduction strategies in SSA (Ellis 2005), this strategy is unlikely to be sustainable if input and output markets are not linked, creating difficulties for farmers who may not be able to sell their produce surpluses. This shows how raising yields and outputs cannot single-handedly provide the engine for poverty reduction in SSA (Ellis 2005). Improved supply of farm inputs and reliable produce marketing help create well functioning marketing services that stimulate production through better crop and soil management (Lerman 2001).

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