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Degraded soils and the lack of sound soil management practices can result in yield loss that affects smallholder farmer livelihoods. To prevent soil degradation, some agricultural development programs promote practices that maintain or replenish soils for long-term income stability of smallholder farmers. However, despite research and policies to support the adoption of good agricultural practices—including integrated soil management—smallholder farmers often do not change their soil management practices. 

This seminar addressed farmer decision making and the context in which decisions are made, including factors that influence their decisions such as economic, religious and external policy incentives. The talk considered agricultural innovation systems, networks and platforms that facilitate farmer adoption of integrated soil fertility management. An example from Malawi further deepened the conversation about how policy-based incentives can potentially improve adoption to reduce soil erosion and increase yields.