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Alternative approaches for promoting fertilizer use in Africa

Concerned by the low use of fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to other developing regions, in 2004 the World Bank and the UK Department for International Development jointly undertook an Africa Fertilizer Strategy Assessment, the objectives of which included: 1) Identifying factors that have undermined demand for fertilizer in Sub- Saharan Africa; 2) Identifying factors that have restricted the supply of fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa; 3) Assessing lessons learned from past attempts to promote increased use of fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa; and 4) Identifying entry points for supporting successful uptake of fertilizer by African farmers, particularly smallholders. This report is one of four ARD Discussion Papers that address specific fertilizer-related themes and summarize the contributions made by participants in an e-forum about increasing fertilizer use in Africa that was conducted as part of the Assessment. This paper examines a number of financial, economic, social, and political arguments that have been made in favor of promoting increased fertilizer use in Africa. The cases for and against fertilizer subsidies are discussed in some detail.