NON-QUANTIFIABLE OUTCOMES

Certain outcomes of buyer/seller linkages are intangible and difficult to measure or predict, but they can destroy a market linkage if not recognized and addressed. They can have great influence, either positive or negative, on the trust which should underlie the partnership. For example:

• Smallholders may be tempted to 'side sell' part of their crop to avoid loan repayments, especially if they are unsure of, or do not value highly, the future services that they may receive from the company
• Calculation of prices and payments, timeliness of service provision, expectations of smallholders by company or of company by smallholders may not be transparent or satisfactory, leading to disappointments and misunderstandings on either side
• Inputs of labour and distribution of income may be unfairly allocated within the farm family, adversely affecting women and children or undermining other essential activities such as food production

The possibility of such outcomes should be incorporated in the monitoring and evaluation system described above, and steps should be taken to reduce their negative impact through consultative and participatory methods.