Market-Based Solutions Increase Smallholder Farmers’ Yields | Farming First

More than 75 percent of the world’s poor are farmers. Their profession is to grow food, yet many employ outdated agricultural tools and techniques. Despite their hard work, millions of farmers barely grow enough to feed their families. Many agriculture programs aim to address this by providing specific services, such as training or farm inputs. Yet, few programs address all of farmers’ obstacles to growing more food. A small loan to farmers is of little use if farmers cannot find farming inputs such as seed and fertilizer to buy in their community. Even when farmers can access farming inputs, they do not always know how to make the most of them. Frequently, when they can find the inputs and use them successfully, there are no markets to sell their surplus harvest. Farmers need support in accessing inputs, education and markets to increase their yields and incomes.

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