@article{Mekuria:9515,
      recid = {9515},
      author = {Mekuria, Mulugetta and Waddington, Stephen R. and Siziba,  Shephard},
      title = {Breaking the "Fertilizer Poverty" and Food Insecurity  Traps in Smallholder Maize Based Farming System in Southern  Africa: Experiences and Lessons from Soil Fertility  Network/Economics and Policy Working Group (EPWG)},
      address = {2004},
      number = {306-2016-4867},
      series = {AAAE Conference Proceedings No.1},
      pages = {8},
      year = {2004},
      abstract = {Smallholder farmers in southern Africa face acute food  insecurity because the productive capacity of their soils  has declined. These resource-poor farmers increasingly  cannot afford mineral fertilizers Farmers mentioned the  lack of fertilizers for their depleted soils as the most  important constraint- "Empty Soils, stomachs and pockets."  In response to this challenge, Soil Fert Net researchers in  southern Africa have developed and promoted a range of  "best-bet" soil fertility management technological (SFMT)  options for farmers. This paper presents a review of  financial, adoption, institutional and policy analysis  undertaken by EPWG members on the use of SFMT by  smallholders. Financial and risk analysis tools, selected  econometric models and policy analysis matrix were employed  to measure profitability, incidence and intensity of  adoption and to understand the effects of policy  instruments necessary to promote SFMTs. Financial analysis  of "best bets" indicates that (even with current  unfavorable input and output prices) there are positive  payoffs to investing in SFMTs. Adoption studies in Malawi,  Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique revealed that farmers need  to make a significant initial investment in terms of labor,  land and capital before they start to obtain benefits.  SFMTs are also management and information intensive and  farmers' limited skills and knowledge are critical factors  influencing adoption. Profitability and subsequent adoption  decisions are sensitive to changes in maize grain price,  crop yield and the cost of borrowing capital. The study  recommend institutional and policy support and advocacy for  better access to credit, input availability, market  linkages to scale up the diffusion and promotion of SFMTs.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/9515},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.9515},
}