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- ItemAvailability of Urea for Blending of NPK - A Matter of National Security.(2024)This publication explores the critical issue of urea availability in Nigeria, emphasizing its significance for agricultural productivity and national security. Despite Nigeria's capacity to produce urea, farmers face severe limitations due to its scarcity, hampering the utilization of blending facilities for NPK fertilizers. The paper examines the historical context of government interventions in fertilizer supply, particularly the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), which aimed to enhance local blending capabilities and reduce dependence on imports. However, challenges persist, including high domestic prices linked to export parity and insufficient prioritization of local markets by urea manufacturers. This analysis highlights the socio-economic implications of urea scarcity, including its effects on food security, rural development, and industrial growth. Recommendations for policy actions are proposed, focusing on ensuring local supply quotas, negotiating fair pricing for urea, and implementing an export tax regime to prioritize domestic needs.
- ItemFertilizer Quality Assessment in Markets of Uganda(2018-04) Joaquin Sanabria; Joshua Ariga; Job Fugice; Dennis MoseWith funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is conducting a series of fertilizer quality assessments in Eastern and Southern Africa. Despite Uganda’s relatively small fertilizer market and low fertilizer consumption, it was selected for the assessment because the small fertilizer market and simple value chains exhibit characteristics that may influence fertilizer quality. In addition, there is potential for increasing consumption as imports have been increasing for the last decade with substantial fertilizer trade activity across its borders, mainly Kenya and Tanzania. The objectives of these studies are to conduct fertilizer quality diagnostics that reveal detailed quality conditions in the value chains of country members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and East African Community (EAC) and to use this information to recommend policy solutions for the problems identified. These solutions are targeted at reforming regulations and policies both at country and regional levels. Crafting solutions only for incountry quality problems would be insufficient given the existence of significant fertilizer trade between neighboring countries. The IFDC fertilizer quality assessment team first trained a group of 29 oficials of the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) to perform the role of quality inspectors and collect samples from fertilizer markets in various regions of the country. Then, a random approach was used to select fertilizer dealers and collect fertilizer samples for chemical analyses. Data were also collected on fertilizer markets, dealers, physical properties of the products, and storage conditions from the sample of dealers. After conducting chemical analyses on fertilizer samples in the labs, the estimated nutrient content for fertilizers and cadmium (Cd) content were then incorporated into the dataset for analysis. Based on the number of samples collected from the fertilizers available in the markets, the fertilizers were classified as “large trade” or “low trade.” The large trade fertilizer group included diammonium phosphate (DAP), urea, NPK 17-17-17, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), NPKS 25-5-5+5S, and ammonium sulfate. The low trade fertilizer group included numerous products with nutrient content in a wide range of grades and in the form of granulated, liquid, crystal, and powder fertilizers. Nutrient content shortages in fertilizers were quantified in terms of frequency (how often they occur) and severity (the extent to which the shortages are out of compliance). The total nitrogen contents out of compliance (OOC) for DAP, 17-17-17, and 25-5-5+5S were 0%, 13%, and 27%, respectively; the severities for total nitrogen OOC in the same fertilizers were 0%, -1.7%, and -3.9%, respectively. Available phosphorus (P2O5) shortages OOC for the same fertilizers were 6%, 0%, and 12%, respectively, and the shortage severities were -2.5%, 0%, and -2.3%, respectively. Soluble potassium (K2O) OOC shortage frequencies were 9% and 0% for 17-17-17 and 25-5-5+5S, respectively, and the OOC severities for the same nutrient and fertilizers were -5.5% and 0%, respectively. Total nitrogen OOC shortages in urea and ammonium sulfate were 10% and 0%, respectively. Total nitrogen OOC shortages occurred in four CAN samples out of 10. The OOC shortage severities of total nitrogen in urea, ammonium sulfate, and CAN were -1.25%, 0%, and -1.01%, respectively. The liquid fertilizers had significantly higher frequencies and severities of nutrient shortages OOC than the granulated fertilizers; among the granulated products, the set of fertilizers of low commercialization presented higher frequencies and severities of nutrient content shortages OOC than the set of fertilizers of high commercialization. This difference suggests the volume or market share of the products is related to the quality, that products with higher market share show evidence of being manufactured with more care than products of low market share, and/or products with higher market share are less affected by quality-influencing factors along the distribution chain. Ten percent of the fertilizer bags used for weight verifications presented weight shortages beyond the 0.5-kilogram (kg) tolerance limits. Since Uganda has negligible re-bagging of 50-kg bags, the weight shortages must originate in the manufacturing plants or in the in-country bagging of fertilizers that are imported in bulk. Most storage areas used by wholesalers and retailers do not regulate the temperature and relative humidity (RH) to the level required for the preservation of the physical and chemical properties of fertilizers, but due to appropriate granulation and the good quality of the bags used, cases of moist fertilizers, caking, and granular degradation in the fertilizers found in Ugandan markets were identified with low frequency. For these reasons, the nutrient content shortages found can hardly be attributed to degradation of physical properties. No evidence of fertilizer adulteration was found in the sampling and inspection of 50-kg bags, which make up more than 90% of fertilizers traded in Uganda. Exiting literature reports that have identified adulterated fertilizers in bags containing 1-5 kg base their conclusions only on chemical lab results. Additional verification to identify and quantify foreign materials that may have been used to dilute nutrient content is needed to ensure that the out-of-compliance shortages are not due to manufacture deficiencies or uncontrolled variability in chemical analysis. Even if adulteration in small fertilizer packs is proven, it is far from being a significant source of fertilizer quality problems in Uganda given the small fraction of the total trade represented by these small packs. Only 8% of smallholder farming households use inorganic fertilizers, 1 and their use is very low at about 1 kg of nutrient per hectare per year. 2 After discarding degradation of physical properties and adulteration in 50-kg bags as reasons for fertilizer nutrient content shortages, then what is left as the most likely cause is deficient manufacture of some of the imported fertilizers and inadequate port inspection. Cadmium is a toxic element that can accumulate in soil and crop products. The maximum cadmium content found in fertilizers containing P2O5 in Uganda was in a DAP sample with 23 parts per million (ppm) of Cd or 10.7 milligram (mg) Cd per kg P2O5. These two values are below the Kenya tolerance limit of 30 ppm and the European tolerance limit of 20 mg Cd/kg P2O5. The relatively small difference between the maximum Cd found in the fertilizers commercialized in Uganda and the international tolerance limits (TLs) justify continuing to monitor closely the Cd content and the origin of the phosphate rock used in the manufacture of fertilizers, since Cd content in phosphate rock varies with the location and type of deposit. On the regulatory side, the findings of this study point to the need for quality inspections at both domestic and international levels, because some of the quality issues identified may be connected to manufacture or points on the value chain outside of Uganda. It is also important to teach farmers that even with good quality fertilizers, raising yields to desirable levels requires a holistic approach to crop management that includes fertilizer use at rates suggested by soil characteristics and crop balance nutrition needs and the use of good quality seeds and crop protection inputs at the right rates and times.
- ItemFood Security and Employment under a Changing Climate in Mali: What Are the Options?(2017)In 2016, around 2.5 million people were considered food-insecure: almost 15% of the population. Mali has rather distinct agricultural production systems that collectively can ensure food self-sufficiency. A healthy but still moderate food supply for all in 2050 and 2100 would require food availability to increase about 3- fold and 6-fold respectively, compared to 2015. It is not impossible to achieve this in a sustainable manner by a combination of the following options: Rainfed agriculture can suffice to provide the population with a moderate diet up to 2100 (in particular maize, millet and sorghum). Water use efficiency can be dramatically increased through a comprehensive agronomic package of measures. Rice and irrigated cultivation can still be considerably enhanced, in particular by investing in water use efficiency and other improved practices. Irrigated rice remains a water-inefficient system, competing with more efficient agricultural water uses. The Inner Niger Delta in particular produces large amounts of irrigated rice, meat and fish. More large scale irrigation here may go at the expense of current water-based livelihoods, although some optimization is possible. A reliable estimate of the total potential of this area requires a more comprehensive assessment. Large-scale irrigated rice creates relatively less employment. Improving livestock cultivation is still possible, but highly depends on innovations in fodder supply. Fish production can increase by means of aquaculture. Cash crops and trade still have considerable growth potential, not so much for the already important cotton, but much more for exotic products; the potential could not be assessed in this study. With current IPCC scenarios, the potential described above can still be realized, albeit at higher investment cost for additional adaptation measures. Sound knowledge and farm management and collective infrastructure management become more critical. Realizing the potential food production is the most realistic option to increase livelihoods and employment in Mali. Employment will be created in the primary production, but in particular along the value chain, such as in the input sector for service providers and agro-dealers and in food processing industries. Private and public actors together may give priority to value chains that give them most return-on-investment, as well as contribute most to sustainable development.
- ItemImproving Regional Fertilizer Markets in West Africa(2012-03) Balu L. Bumb; Michael E. Johnson; Porfirio A. FuentesIn 2000, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) committed to halving hunger and poverty by 2015, necessitating a 6.8 percent annual growth in agriculture. However, from 2000 to 2009, West African agriculture grew at a rate of only 3.7 percent due to various constraints. To achieve sustained agricultural growth, there is a need for increased productivity through the adoption of improved technologies and inputs. Fertilizer use and access to improved seeds are particularly crucial. This study examines the constraints in West African fertilizer markets and suggests policy, institutional, and infrastructure improvements to address them. The lack of a well-established regional fertilizer market, oligopolistic import structures, high financing costs, and supply chain inefficiencies hinder fertilizer accessibility and affordability. The study recommends creating a common regional fertilizer market, removing barriers, enhancing supply chain efficiencies, and harmonizing regulations. On the demand side, efforts to strengthen farmer domains through farmer organizations, research and extension, and training are proposed. By addressing both supply-side and demand-side constraints, West Africa can advance agricultural productivity and food security, with a particular focus on fertilizer market development.
- ItemQuality Assessment of Fertilizers Traded in Mali(2013) Joaquin Sanabria; Emmanuel AlognikouIn 2006, prior to the Africa Fertilizer Summit and in collaboration with the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), ECOWAS adopted a fertilizer strategy1 with the general objective of promoting their increased and efficient use with a view to sustainably improving agricultural productivity. This regional strategy hinges on four pillars or specific objectives: 1. Improving efficiency and environmental safety of fertilizers. 2. Improving the institutional, regulatory and business environment of the regional fertilizer market. 3. Stimulate effective demand. 4. Stimulate supply. Through the second specific objective, which is to improve the regulatory, institutional and business environment of the regional market of fertilizers, ECOWAS is focusing on creating favorable conditions for the development of the fertilizer sector. Indeed, West African national fertilizer markets are underdeveloped and too narrow to generate a sufficient dynamism and competitiveness. The extension of national markets to the ECOWAS region through the harmonization of national regulatory frameworks is likely to further stimulate private investment in this sector. The effective implementation of a regional framework that harmonizes national regulatory frameworks governing the production and trade of fertilizers and instituting and organizing quality control will protect farmers and render fertilizer trade more attractive to private investment by expanding national markets beyond national borders and by stimulating fair competition with quality products. An ECOWAS legal framework for fertilizer trade and quality control in West Africa was adopted by all state members of the economic community in December 2012. The liberalization of the importation and distribution of fertilizers in most West African countries without appropriate control has led to the emergence of quality problems in products traded in the region. These problems could impede efforts to boost agricultural productivity and to restore or maintain soil fertility, for this reason systematic quality assessments following the requirements in the recently adopted ECOWAS regulatory system at country and regional levels are a priority. There are very few systematic studies on the quality of fertilizers marketed in West Africa. The most recent, 2 conducted by IFDC between 2010 and 2013 made quality assessments in five countries –Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal – showed large quality differences between countries, but in general, the NPK fertilizers manufactured through blending presented the most frequent cases of poor quality compared with compound products. More specifically, 51 percent of the 106 samples of the NPK 15-15-15 blend were out of compliance with the then newly adopted ECOWAS tolerance limits for nutrient content deviations. Similarly, other products that failed to meet the ECOWAS quality standards were 86 percent of the 90 samples of the NPK 20-10-10 blend, 12 percent of the 30 samples of the NPK 6-20-10 blend, 96 percent of the 27 samples of the NPK 15-10-10 blend, 31 percent of the 23 samples of Asaase Wura (NPK 0-22-18+9CaO+7S+5MgO) and 26 percent of the 27 samples of Cocoa Feed (NPK 0-30-20). Data from the study indicated that nutrient shortages among the blended fertilizers can be explained by segregation of fertilizer components due to uneven size of granules in some cases and by insufficient input of some of the nutrients during manufacture in other cases. In contrast to the blended products, the only compound products that failed to meet the ECOWAS quality standard were 4 percent of the 534 samples of urea, 10 percent of the 356 samples of the compound NPK 15- 15-15, 16 percent of the 162 samples of AS (NPK 21-0-0 +24S), 15 percent of the 162 samples of compound NPK 16-16-16, 1 percent of the 103 samples of compound NPK 23-10-5 and 4 percent of the 90 samples of Sulfan (NPK 24-0-0+6S). While the proportions of non-compliant samples observed in the compound products are lower than the ones observed in blended products, these can still be considered high for imported products. This result confirms the finding of a previous assessment IFDC carried out in West Africa in 19953 indicating that 10 of the 29 samples of NPK compounds examined were nutrient-deficient. An analysis of the weight of 1,055 fertilizer bags collected from all five countries indicated that there was a 41 percent chance that the bag weight does not comply with the ECOWAS tolerance limit in Nigeria, a 28 percent chance in Côte d’Ivoire, 13 percent in Senegal, 12 percent in Ghana and 7 percent in Togo. The only cases of completely proven adulteration are seven samples of SSP from Nigeria that were found to have no P2O5 content. While high percentages of nutrient deficient samples in some NPK blends found in some countries could be interpreted as fraud during manufacturing or along the distribution chain, this was not substantiated by findings of this study; the lack of or poor control of blending procedures and use of inadequate blending equipment can be also possible explanations. The fertilizer quality assessments conducted between 2010 and 2013 were part of the activities of the IFDC MIR-Plus project4 . Following adoption of the Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to fertilizer quality control in the ECOWAS region, the ECOWAS Commission gave IFDC through the USAID-funded West Africa Fertilizer Program (WAFP)5 the mandate to facilitate its implementation in member States. The fertilizer quality assessment in additional ECOWAS Member States like Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin and Liberia is part of WAFP’s efforts. A fertilizer quality assessment study has been conducted in Mali between July 2014 and May 2015 and its findings are presented in this report. The main objective of this project was to assess the quality of fertilizers in the markets of Mali, classify the problems according with their origin and identify factors that contribute to the quality problems. This information is expected to be used by the Government of Mali and ECOWAS as baseline to work toward domestication of the ECOWAS regulatory system to improve the Mali regulatory system in terms of efficacy and harmony with the regional regulatory system.