Abstract
African farmers have relied traditionally on fallowing for up to 15 years to restore soil fertility. Leaving land unproductive for such periods is a luxury many regions cannot afford, given the contemporary decline in per capita food production (1%/year). Thus, alternative soil fertility maintenance measures such as agroforestry, novel intercropping systems, residue conservation, the use of manure, soil amendments, and fertilizer have recently been given greater emphasis. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 75% of the increase in regional food production must come from intensive production. However, fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa is only one tenth of the world average. The small size of fertilizer markets in most countries is an important contributing factor in relatively high farm-gate prices and low fertilizer use. There is significant scope for improving the efficiency of fertilizer procurement and distribution in the region. Most countries can substantially reduce farm-gate prices by changing to higher analysis formulas, relaxing specifications, importing in bulk and bagging locally, and improving systems of distribution. Various options of fertilizer production are discussed in this context. Intensification in areas where environmental constraints are limited and surplus production can be marketed may alleviate the demographic pressures to cultivate marginal land where increased land and labor productivity is unlikely. Although substantial effort should be made to research sustainable farming system options for marginal lands, efforts in the more resilient environments should concentrate on increased crop production, using inputs where feasible. Provisions should be made for adequate support in the infrastructural, institutional, and policy spheres to transform these regions into granaries.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andre M (1989) Economic implications of fertilizer specifications. African Fertilizer Market 2 (11): 5–10. IFDC-Africa, Lomé, Togo
Baanante CA, Bumb BL and Thompson TP (1989) The benefits of fertilizer use in developing countries. IFDC P-8, International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL, USA
Bationo A and Klaij MC (1990) Evaluation of phosphorus fertilizers in the sandy soils of Niger: The IFDC-ICRISAT experience 1982–1987. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Sahelian Center. Niamey, Niger
Dale T and Carter VG (1954) Topsoils and civilization. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, USA
Daramola B (1989) The study of socio-economic factors influencing fertilizer adoption decisions in Nigeria: A survey of Oyo state farmers. Fert Res 20: 143–151
De Bruijn GH and Fresco LO (1989) The importance of cassava in world food production. Neth J Agric Sci 37: 21–34
Frederick MT (1986) Raw material procurement-impact on project viability. Paper prepared for Process Economics Training Program, International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL. USA
Frederick MT (1990) Fertilizer supply options for sub-Saharan Africa. UNIDO Expert Group Meeting on Processing and Utilization of Poor- and Medium-Grade Phosphate. Senegal, January 3–6, 1990. United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna, Austria
Mokwunye AU and Vlek PLG (eds) (1986) Management of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa. Martinus Nijhoff Publ. Dordrecht. The Netherlands
Mokwunye AU and Hammond LL (1990) The myths and science of fertilizer use in the tropics. ASA symposium paper, ASA annual meeting, Las Vegas, November 1989, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI
Paulino LA (1987) The evolving food situation. In: Mellor JW, Delgado CL and Blackie MJ (eds) Accelerating food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD, USA
Pieri C (1989) Fertilité des terres de savanes. Ministère de la Cooperation et CIRAD-IRAT. Agridoc-Int. Paris, France
Schultz JJ and Parish DH (1989) Fertilizer production and supply constraints and options in sub-Saharan Africa: IFDC P-10, International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL, USA
Thompson TP and Baanante CA (1989) Constraints to fertilizer use in a Sahelian environment. Afr Fert Rev 1: 16–22
World Bank (1989) Sub-Saharan Africa: From crisis to sustainable growth. IRBD/The World Bank, Washington D.C., USA
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vlek, P.L.G. The role of fertilizers in sustaining agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Fertilizer Research 26, 327–339 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01048771
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01048771