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Policy options for improving regional fertilizer markets in West Africa:

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  • Bumb, Balu L.
  • Johnson, Michael E.
  • Fuentes, Porfirio A.

Abstract

A primary motivation for this study is to identify a key set of policy options for improving fertilizer markets in West Africa (among Economic Community of West African States member countries) in ways that ultimately will help improve the efficiency of regional markets and lower the transaction costs and fiscal burdens of increasing fertilizer use in the region. Guided by the 2008 fertilizer crisis, many governments are tempted to impose fertilizer subsidies to reduce fertilizer prices. Yet, in an environment riddled with inefficiencies that contribute to the high costs of using fertilizers, the introduction of subsidies only adds more fiscal burden.To carry out the study, we undertook four country case studies to review the key constraints and bottlenecks along the fertilizer supply chain. The countries were Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal, and the research included field visits in 2009 and 2010. The current paper is based on the country case study results, complemented by a literature review and analysis of secondary data sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Bumb, Balu L. & Johnson, Michael E. & Fuentes, Porfirio A., 2011. "Policy options for improving regional fertilizer markets in West Africa:," IFPRI discussion papers 1084, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1084
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    2. Resnick, Danielle & Mather, David, 2016. "Agricultural Inputs Policy Under Macroeconomic Uncertainty: Applying The Kaleidoscope Model To Ghana’S Fertilizer Subsidy Programme (2008–2015)," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259059, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    3. Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis Saweda O. & Jayne, Thomas & Muyanga, Milu & Sanou, Awa, 2017. "Are African Farmers Experiencing Improved Incentives To Use Fertilizer?," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 270632, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    4. Melkani, Aakanksha & Liverpool-Tasie, Lenis. S.O. & Snapp, Sieglinde, 2022. "Policy support for sustainable agricultural intensification in SubSaharan Africa: Where are we 20 years on?," PRCI Research Papers 324030, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Food Security Group.
    5. Houssou, Nazaire & Andam, Kwaw S. & Collins, Asante-Addo, 2017. "Can better targeting improve the effectiveness of Ghana's Fertilizer Subsidy Program? Lessons from Ghana and other countries in Africa south of the Sahara," IFPRI discussion papers 1605, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Jeanne Coulibaly & Theodore Nouhoheflin & Casimir Aitchedji & Maiyaki Damisa & Stephen D'Alessandro & Dieudonne Baributsa & Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer, 2012. "PURDUE IMPROVED COWPEA STORAGE (PICS) SUPPLY CHAIN STUDY Abstract:The Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) project was launched in 2007 with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The pr," Working Papers 12-4, Purdue University, College of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    7. Srivastava, Nitish & Saquib, Mohammad & Rajput, Pramod & Bhosale, Amit C. & Singh, Rhythm & Arora, Pratham, 2023. "Prospects of solar-powered nitrogenous fertilizers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    8. Cochrane, Nancy & Hansen, James & Nigatu, Getachew & Seeley, Ralph, 2016. "Long term Outlook for Rice Production and Trade in West Africa: a Set of Productivity Growth Scenarios," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235692, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Honfoga, Barthelemy G., 2015. "Revue De La Politique Sur Les Engrais Dans L’Espace Cedeao," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259020, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    10. Resnick, Danielle & Mather, David, 2016. "Agricultural inputs policy under macroeconomic uncertainty: Applying the kaleidoscope model to Ghana’s Fertilizer Subsidy Programme (2008–2015):," IFPRI discussion papers 1551, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Houssou, Nazaire & Asante-Addo, Collins & Andam, Kwaw S., 2017. "Improving the targeting of fertilizer subsidy programs in Africa south of the Sahara: Perspectives from the Ghanaian experience," IFPRI discussion papers 1622, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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