Encouraging sustainable smallholder agriculture in southern Africa in the context of agricultural services reform

This paper summarises the results of six DFID funded country studies on encouraging sustainable agriculture in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. It emphasises the need for continuing government and donor support for sustainable increases in agricultural productivity which must underpin poverty alleviation. In this context, moves toward fiscal sustainability, though justifiable, will have adverse poverty impacts if pursued too rapidly and inflexibly.