Expected COVID-19 impact	Farmer network responses
Dealers face challenges in procuring inputs such as fertilizers and insecticides	Execute early pre-season contracts with dealers and banks to secure orders and to facilitate procurement by importers—for example, for imported hybrid maize seeds Facilitate access to subsidized inputs by members Coordinate last-mile distribution
Farm households lack access to seed; farmers may consume their rice stocks, including seed	Make cereal seed production a core network activity Distribute short-cycle crop seeds (e.g., cowpea, maize, horticulture crops) through both purchases and donor aid Encourage early harvest of 2021 seed stocks and accelerated processing Establish or increase emergency food stocks from harvest surplus and downgraded seed stocks
Access to labor may be a challenge during lockdown	Coordinate mechanized services across the network using cellular and smartphones
Technology transfer and access to improved practices may be a challenge because of lack of mobility of national extension services and non-governmental organizations	Distribute personal protective equipment to field agents as a priority Coordinate procurement of inputs and seeds via mobile phone Use radio messaging about best practices and personal safety Continue subscriptions to SMS rainfall tracking and weather alert services
Farmers’ financial constraints may be exacerbated	Fund emergency loans to farmers from network equity reserves Issue promissory notes through the network, underwritten by banks, to cover unpaid balances to allow opening of 2020 lines of credit
Farmers may not be allowed to go to market to sell their products	Secure supply for pre-season contracts with processors and dealers despite 2019 rain shortfall
Farmers will lack alternative marketing strategies	Distribute seeds for diversification short-cycle crops and horticulture crops to be marketed locally
Inability to sell crops in a timely manner may increase liquidity constraints and jeopardize food security	Negotiate a moratorium with banks on unpaid balances Sell grain surpluses to members on credit Link with food aid programs to ensure members’ equitable access

Dealers face challenges in procuring inputs such as fertilizers and insecticides

Execute early pre-season contracts with dealers and banks to secure orders and to facilitate procurement by importers—for example, for imported hybrid maize seeds
Facilitate access to subsidized inputs by members
Coordinate last-mile distribution

Farm households lack access to seed; farmers may consume their rice stocks, including seed

Make cereal seed production a core network activity
Distribute short-cycle crop seeds (e.g., cowpea, maize, horticulture crops) through both purchases and donor aid
Encourage early harvest of 2021 seed stocks and accelerated processing
Establish or increase emergency food stocks from harvest surplus and downgraded seed stocks

Access to labor may be a challenge during lockdown

Coordinate mechanized services across the network using cellular and smartphones

Technology transfer and access to improved practices may be a challenge because of lack of mobility of national extension services and non-governmental organizations

Distribute personal protective equipment to field agents as a priority
Coordinate procurement of inputs and seeds via mobile phone
Use radio messaging about best practices and personal safety
Continue subscriptions to SMS rainfall tracking and weather alert services

Farmers’ financial constraints may be exacerbated

Fund emergency loans to farmers from network equity reserves
Issue promissory notes through the network, underwritten by banks, to cover unpaid balances to allow opening of 2020 lines of credit

Farmers may not be allowed to go to market to sell their products

Secure supply for pre-season contracts with processors and dealers despite 2019 rain shortfall

Farmers will lack alternative marketing strategies

Distribute seeds for diversification short-cycle crops and horticulture crops to be marketed locally

Inability to sell crops in a timely manner may increase liquidity constraints and jeopardize food security

Negotiate a moratorium with banks on unpaid balances
Sell grain surpluses to members on credit
Link with food aid programs to ensure members’ equitable access