Improving the Effectiveness, Efficiency and Sustainability of Fertilizer Use in Sub-Saharan Africa

Fertilizer had been part of the technological trinity (improved seed, irrigation, and fertilizer) responsible for bringing about the Green Revolution of Latin America and Asia. Its adequate and efficient use should, therefore, be a main ingredient in achieving food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). At present, average fertilizer use intensity in SSA is the lowest compared to anywhere in the world and the region needs to take affirmative action to improve the situation. The reasons for the dismal fertilizer use intensity in SSA are many and varied, and could be analyzed with respect to response rate (effectiveness), profitability (efficiency) and sustainability of use. That is what this research sought to do in order to present fertilizer related agricultural policy experiences of SSA countries and lessons learnt over the years to the region’s policy makers, politicians and other stakeholders, in a form that will interest them and will be understood by them. SSA countries’ fertilizer policies have, over the years, followed a general trend of state interventions and subsidies in the 1960s and 1970s, liberalized markets and removal of subsidies in the 1980s and 1990s and a return to moderate state interventions in recent years. Responses to the fertilizer policies have, however, varied widely ranging from Kenya’s largely successful market reform policies to Malawi’s debatable ‘successful’ state intervention and subsidy policies. There continues to be low crop response to fertilizer application in SSA mainly because of poor fertilizer management by farmers; fertilizer unavailability at the time it is needed; lack of complementary inputs, such as improved seeds and irrigation. There has also been low profitability from fertilizer use mainly due to the low response, high fertilizer prices and low and unstable product prices. The low and inefficient use of fertilizers has hindered the growth in agricultural productivity and to some extent jeopardized the long term sustainability of African soil. Based on the study, the main recommendations are: (1) Farmers’ knowledge and skills in sustainable crop and soil management practices should be improved through well-informed and effective capacity building and extension services (2) Fertilizer distribution private sector should be developed and governments should establish supporting policy environments to attract investments into the fertilizer production and distribution sectors of the countries. In particular, transportation and market infrastructure should be significantly improved (3) Present fertilizer subsidy programs in SSA countries should be nurtured to maturity by effective targeting and by fine-tuning them in terms of organization and legislation to ensure transparency and accountability of all actors.