Policies for Integrating Relief and Commercial Market Sources of

Agricultural Inputs

Proposal for follow-up to Input Voucher Study submitted to USAID

Doug MerreyLusaka, 4 September 2007

Background

Building on foundation created by previous work on relief seeds, input vouchers

Opportunity to help region identify ways to: strengthen agricultural input markets; escape from blanket subsidy programmes; and target support to poorest farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods

Opportunity to explore other innovative uses, for example purchase of simple equipment like treadle pumps

Sufficient evidence from within and beyond region on effectiveness of input vouchers to give us confidence

Activity objectives

1. Develop implementation plans and achieve commitment to demonstrate the potential impacts of scaling up (Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia)

2. Extend work on relief seeds and fertilizer, and input vouchers, to Angola

3. Hold workshop to share experiences—Africa, Asia—as inputs to regional policies—> edited book

4. Prepare longer term program of research, pilot testing, capacity building, strengthening advocacy, for external funding support.

Asset creation through cash transfers by World Food Programme, Malawi

Source: B. Mwale, World Food Programme Report, 2006

We invite your inputs, suggestions for a future programme, and your

collaboration in its development and implementation!