Scientific Publication

Fertilizer policies and implications for African agriculture

author(s) Abate, Gashaw Tadesse - Abay, Kibrom - Spielman, David J
from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
permalink open
themes
regions
  • Western Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • World
  • Southern Africa
  • Northern Africa
  • Eastern Africa
  • Middle Africa
citation

Abate, Gashaw Tadesse; Abay, Kibrom; Spielman, David J, 'Fertilizer policies and implications for African agriculture', In 2020 Annual trends and outlook report: Sustaining Africa's agrifood system transformation: The role of public policies. Resnick, Danielle; Diao, Xinshen; and Tadesse, Getaw (Eds). Chapter 4, Pp. 33-44, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, 2020

Publications and datasets provided via GARDIAN

Abstract

In response to the low adoption of improved inputs, African governments have pursued various fertilizer promotion policies and programs. These initiatives range from state-controlled procurement and distribution systems to wholly private sector–led systems. This chapter reviews the pros and cons of some of these polices and their implications for fertilizer use and agricultural productivity. We also review general trends in fertilizer consumption and application rates, marginal returns to fertilizer use, trends in tailored recommendations for nutrients based on soil tests, and emerging concerns regarding unbalanced use of fertilizer in fragile regions of the continent.

Open original