Abstract

In this study, we set out to determine whether strategies used to link farmers to markets resulted in household level livelihood and NRM impacts measured by the participation in the market and the value of sales from the markets. Farmer to market linkages have improved livelihoods in developing countries due to policy, institutional and implementation strategies, however, equal emphasis has not been placed on investments in Natural Resource Management (NRM). Areas with high market access have often been cited as the highest in soil nutrient depletion, while input markets and labour required for land management are scarce at community level. We established a higher human capacity through formal education and technical skills built through extension and training services provided by the institutional affiliation which enabled support to specific enterprise production. We also observed increased commercialization through increased number of crops sold to the market through more than one marketing channel, including food and cash crops which compete with one another. Investment in NRM was low despite increased income.

Key words: Linking farmers to markets, natural resource re-investment, sample selection model, impacts, rural livelihoods.