Blog Category

Fertilizer

Evaluating Fertilizer Subsidies in Malawi

Mar 15th, 2024 • by Sara Gustafson

Since the 1950s, Malawi has used a national fertilizer subsidy program as a way to spur use of inorganic fertilizers, boost domestic maize production, and ensure food security and self-sufficiency for smallholder farmers. According to new working paper from the Malawi Strategy Support Program, however, the national subsidy program may not be the most efficient investment for improving the country’s food security and domestic production goals.

Grappling with compounding crises in domestic fertilizer markets in Africa: The case of Ethiopia

Jan 23rd, 2024 • by KIBROM A. ABAY, THOMAS W. ASSEFA, GUUSH BERHANE, GASHAW T. ABATE, AND CHARLOTTE HEBEBRAND

Global fertilizer markets experienced significant price surges beginning in 2020 and through 2022 due to a combination of factors, including higher natural gas prices, supply chain disruptions triggered by COVID-19, trade disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine war, and export restrictions. Although parallel increases in international agricultural commodity prices may have cushioned these price shocks, insufficient availability and affordability of fertilizers are likely to have affected yield and profitability of smallholder production systems.

Packaging Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices to Increase Farmer Adoption: Evidence from Nigeria

Jan 13th, 2024 • by Sara Gustafson

Extreme weather events and the long-term impacts of climate change pose a major risk for Africa south of the Sahara, threatening agricultural production and economic growth and hindering efforts to reduce poverty and food insecurity. Climate-smart agricultural practices (CSAPs) can help farmers better adapt to and mitigate these risks; however, the adoption of such practices in the region remains low.

How is Kenya’s National Fertilizer Subsidy Program working?

Dec 28th, 2023 • by HAILEMARIAM AYALEW, JOSEPH KARUGIA, JOHN OLWANDE, AND CLEMENS BREISINGER

The Kenyan National Fertilizer Subsidy Program (NFSP), implemented during the short rainy season in September 2022, has emerged as a pivotal policy in the government’s efforts to expand food production and mitigate soaring food prices.

Fertilizer policies amid global supply and price shocks

Dec 12th, 2023 • by Kibrom Abay, Jordan Chamberlin, Pauline Chivenge, Charlotte Hebebrand, and David J.Spielman

Achieving efficient and effective fertilizer usage in agricultural production is a critically important economic and environmental policy objective for countries at all stages of economic development, although the nature of the policy problem may vary radically in different contexts.