Perceptions, Quality, and Uncertainty in Ghanaian Fertilizer Markets

Seth Asante, Kwaw Andam and Andrew Simons
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Seth Asante: International Food Policy Research Institute Accra, Ghana
Kwaw Andam: International Food Policy Research Institute Abuja, Nigeria

Fordham Economics Discussion Paper Series from Fordham University, Department of Economics

Abstract: Fertilizer use among small holder farmers in Africa is often thought of as a pathway to improved agricultural productivity and reduced poverty. We examine the perceptions of fertilizer quality along the input supply chain in Ghana and also chemically test collected fertilizer samples. Our objective is to understand whether substandard quality hinders the adoption of fertilizers by farmers. We find that agricultural input dealers perceive fertilizer quality to be lower than farmers do, though both estimate the prevalence of substandard fertilizer at much higher rates than what chemical tests find. Chemical tests at an international laboratory, on average, found fertilizer had the labeled quantity of plant nutrients. Adding to the complicated learning environment farmers face, many local media outlets report on fake or substandard fertilizers and local laboratory tests reported misleading incorrect results when testing the same fertilizer samples.

Keywords: Fertilizer; Technology Adoption; Asymmetric Information; Sub-Saharan Africa; Farmer Beliefs; Agricultural Supply Chains; Learning Challenges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr and nep-agr
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