Fertilizer Use in African Agriculture : Lessons Learned and Good Practice Guidelines

In every region of the world, the
intensification of crop-based agriculture has been
associated with a sharp increase in the use of chemical
fertilizer. Given the generally low levels of fertilizer use
in Africa, there can be little doubt that fertilizer use
must increase in Africa if the region is to meet its
agricultural growth targets, poverty reduction goals, and
environmental sustainability objectives. For this reason,
policies and programs are needed to encourage fertilizer use
in ways that are technically efficient, economically
rational, and market-friendly. Including this introduction,
this report contains eight chapters. Chapter 2 sets the
stage by discussing agriculture's role in the overall
economic development process and explaining why agricultural
development often leads to patterns of growth that are
strongly pro-poor. Chapter 3 briefly recounts the history of
fertilizer promotion efforts in Africa. Chapter 4 outlines
the reasons for low fertilizer use in Africa. Chapter 5
examines factors that influence fertilizer demand and
identifies entry points at which public interventions can
strengthen effective demand at the farm level. Chapter 6
examines the factors that determine the supply of fertilizer
and identifies entry points for public interventions to
improve fertilizer supply. Chapter 7 identifies potential
entry points at which public investments may be effective
for fostering desirable change in a country's
fertilizer sector. Chapter 8 summarizes the main points made
in the report and concludes the discussion.