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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Partnerships in Support of Market"=driven Technology Adoption},pdfauthor={Isaac Minde, John Dimes, Tarisai Pedzisa},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Adoption, Africa, partnership, southern, technology},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{Partnerships in Support of Market"=driven Technology Adoption\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Isaac Minde, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Zimbabwe, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{i.minde@cgiar.org}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Isaac Minde$^{1}$, John Dimes$^{2}$, Tarisai Pedzisa$^{3}$}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Zimbabwe}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), }}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{3}$International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), }}}
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\index[author]{Minde, Isaac}
\index[author]{Dimes, John}
\index[author]{Pedzisa, Tarisai}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Technology adoption proponents have often overemphasised the supply/production side of the supply"=demand equation. It has been assumed that the invisible hand, typically characteristic of competitive markets, will operate to balance demand and supply. However, the reality is that the invisible hand does not function in many African situations because of thin markets, dispersed and unorganised farmers, poor infrastructure, and underdeveloped market information.  As a consequence, many smallholder farmers remain divorced from markets that are essential for sustained technology adoption. 







This paper describes an innovative research-4-development approach that was used to promote adoption of improved soil fertility and water management"=based technologies in selected farming communities in the former homelands of South Africa in 2005/06 and 2006/07. This was done through the creation of farmer"=public-private partnerships that not only linked farmers to extension (for information) and input suppliers (for fertiliser), but also linked them to market agents who would buy the surplus grain generated by the use of appropriate technologies. 







The Limpopo Department of Agriculture provided farmers with the extension information necessary for appropriate fertiliser use and other related agronomic practices to boost yields. The fertiliser industry (SASOL Nitro) supplied 140 metric tons of topdressing fertiliser packaged in the desired small packs of 5, 10 and \mbox{20\,kg}. The grain buyers (Progress Milling) distributed the fertiliser at their rural outlets and purchased the surplus grain from farmers. The process was facilitated by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). 







As a result of this partnership, grain yield in 500 households increased by around \mbox{25\,\%}. Grain sold to Progress Milling and fertiliser sales also increased as farmers realised the benefits to increasing fertiliser use. The existence of a reliable and effective market for the surplus grain provided a genuine context for the extension messages and encouraged technology adoption. 







Some of the lessons learned are that \textbf{(i)}~farmer"=public-private partnerships can serve as mechanism to promote technology adoption rates in southern Africa; \textbf{(ii)}~in some environments, a facilitator or catalyst (a role played by ICRISAT in this case) is necessary to ignite the process. 







}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Adoption, Africa, partnership, southern, technology
\index[key]{Adoption}
\index[key]{Africa}
\index[key]{Partnership}
\index[key]{Southern}
\index[key]{Technology}
\end{document}