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Browsing Digital Library by Author "A. Laamari"
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- ItemAnalysing Power Dynamics and Scaling Potential of the Proposed Ghana Fertilizer Platform(2021) Diene, P.P. ; Bindraban, Prem S.; A. Laamari; William Adzawla; Y. Iddrisu; Williams K. AtakoraThe fertilizer sector plays a major role in crop production. The organization and structuring of the sector is vital to sustaining food systems and shrinking the level of food insecurity. To tackle challenges in the fertilizer value chain, the Government of Ghana aims to establish a Fertilizer Platform Ghana (FPG). This study was conducted to anticipate potential issues arising from power relations and dominance, which will be critical for the sustainability and effectiveness of the platform at scale. Data from 20 key stakeholders were gathered through interviews. Scaling analysis and stakeholder power analysis were done to generate insights from these data. The scaling analysis was used to determine the scaling potential of the FPG and the fertilizer value chain, while the stakeholder power analysis helped identify stakeholders' decision-making power and its basis. The findings revealed that the platform is scalable, but its efficiency and sustainability could be constrained by insecure funding, data credibility, value chain disorganization, lack of collaboration, and leadership. Scaling the fertilizer value chain through the FPG will highly depend on the platform's fit in the local context, private sector critical stakeholders' adoption rate, knowledge institutions' contribution to building a science-based platform, and support from the public sector and its agencies. The pace of development of the fertilizer sector is under command of the public sector, mainly due to its high influence over data and information sources and its total control of the subsidy program, which drives the fertilizer market.The study concluded that the fertilizer value chain could be scaled through the FPG by taking the pathway of a public-private partnership, empowering less powerful actors, and creating a level playing field for all stakeholders within the platform to ensure representativeness and catalyze the development of the fertilizer sector
- ItemDetermination of Fertilizer Cost Components and Their Effect on Fertilizer Prices and the Fertilizer Value Chain in Ghana(2020-12) N. Odionye; D. Saa; A. Laamari; William Adzawla; I. Koffi ; E. Afimia; Williams K. Atakora; Martin Jemo; Bindraban, Prem S.Fertilizer is a major input for crop production, especially in nutrient-depleted soils. In Ghana, consumption of fertilizers has been relatively low due to high prices, which has prompted the introduction of fertilizer subsidy programs to induce consumption and increase agricultural productivity. However, the externality effect of the subsidy program is eroding the profitability of the fertilizer sector downstream, especially the commercial fertilizer market, as margins are insufficient to encourage the expansion of retail distribution networks to remote agrarian communities. These externalities could compromise the gains made by the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program of the Government of Ghana (GoG). This study establishes margins and profitability of value chain actors in the wake of the PFJ. A total of 394 respondents, comprising 153 agro-dealers (106 retailers, 42 distributors, and five importers) and 241 farmers, were interviewed through the aid of a questionnaire. Cointegration analyses were used to investigate price transmission within markets, while a vector auto regression (VAR) model was used to determine the relationship between subsidized and commercial fertilizers (NPK 15:15:15 and urea) for the period 2012-2019. The results revealed weak market efficiency within the fertilizer markets investigated in Ghana while also establishing that prevailing prices of subsidized fertilizers influence the subsequent prices of commercial fertilizers for the period investigated. Furthermore, value chain cost and margin breakdown revealed fertilizer importers had a net positive margin (6.24%) when all costs were factored in, while distributors and retailers had net margins of -17.19% and -15.13%, respectively, for commercial urea. Farmers had the highest transportation cost (3 GH₵ per 50-kg bag) associated with the purchase of fertilizers, as a result of the poor fertilizer distribution network in Ghana. The report concludes with several recommendations, such as an inclusive subsidy negotiation and more research and development to address the identified externalities
- ItemToward Establishing a Ghana Multi-Stakeholder Fertilizer Platform: Insights from Stakeholder and Network Analysis(2020-09) Bindraban, Prem S.; Aremu, T.B.; Comfort Y. Freeman; A. Laamari; Y. Iddrisu; Williams K. AtakoraThis publication presents the findings of a research study aimed at understanding the dynamics of stakeholders in Ghana's fertilizer value chain in preparation for establishing a multi-stakeholder platform to address challenges in the value chain. Through stakeholder and network analysis, insights were gained from 36 interviews conducted with various actors. The introduction highlights the importance of agriculture, particularly sustainable intensification, in improving food security and reducing poverty and inequality. Despite efforts to promote fertilizer use, Ghana's average fertilizer application remains low at 21 kilograms per hectare, hindering sustainable agricultural growth. To tackle this issue, a multi-stakeholder platform is proposed to bring together stakeholders in the fertilizer value chain, fostering resource-sharing and collaboration. Before establishing the platform, it is crucial to identify key stakeholders and their roles to ensure comprehensive engagement and representation. The research findings reveal that government agencies hold significant interest and power in the value chain, while private sector actors demonstrate substantial but limited ability. However, governmental bodies and research institutions lack the necessary resources, and private sector actors face financial constraints due to high collateral and interest rates. Additionally, development partners are critical in various aspects of the value chain, such as research and development, financing, and strategic support. The analysis identifies 19 essential stakeholder groups among the initial 24 identified in the fertilizer value chain. The stakeholders interviewed expressed positive attitudes toward establishing a multi-stakeholder fertilizer platform. However, opinions diverged regarding the hosting organization, with suggestions including independent organizations, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), co-hosting by the public and private sectors, farmer organizations, and civil society. Concerns about diverse interests, power imbalances, policy changes, partisanship, decision-making authority, trust, and financial limitations may affect the platform's success. Moving forward, the publication emphasizes the importance of involving the 19 essential stakeholder groups as steering members in the initial planning and design of the platform. Additional groups can be included once clear goals and objectives are established. The hosting arrangement should be carefully deliberated to ensure sustainability, favoring a semi-autonomous entity with representatives from the value chain stakeholders to prevent disruption in case of government or donor changes. Sustainable financing mechanisms, such as membership dues, are crucial for the platform's long-term viability.