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    Access to Finance for Inclusive Agri-Business Development
    (2012-06-17) Barclay O’Brien
    This material provides an overview of the financial landscape and access to finance for inclusive businesses (IBs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh. The Business Innovation Facility (BIF) Bangladesh, a UKaid-funded project, aims to support IBs with profitable core business activities benefiting the poor and disadvantaged. The material discusses the role of SMEs and agriculture in poverty reduction and economic growth, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in accessing finance. It examines the economic environment, the contributions of different sectors to GDP, and the overlap between agriculture and SMEs. Access to finance is crucial for empowering people and protecting them against economic shocks, and the material explores the importance of financial inclusion. It discusses the role of the government, banks, non-bank financial institutions, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and other finance providers in lending to SMEs and agriculture. The products and services offered by banks, MFIs, equity providers, and other finance providers are also discussed. The material provides insights into the issues faced by finance providers and suggests recommendations for clients to improve their credit readiness. It emphasizes the need for coordination between finance providers and third-party assistance to support potential clients. Overall, the material highlights the importance of enhancing access to finance for SMEs and agriculture to promote inclusive growth in Bangladesh.
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    Access to Finance for Inclusive Agri-business Development
    (2017) Douglas Magaja; Oniankitan Grégoire Agai
    Access to finance is crucial for smallholder farmers and agri-businesses to improve productivity, post-harvest practices, trade, and marketing of agricultural commodities, ultimately addressing poverty and hunger. However, the agricultural sector faces severe financing constraints due to limited knowledge, incentives, and skills within the financial industry. This paper highlights the challenges faced in rural or agricultural finance, including high-interest rates, mismatched repayment schedules, and limited outreach by financial institutions. It presents the interventions of the 2SCALE consortium, which aims to address these constraints and enhance financial inclusion in the agricultural sector. The approach involves assessing financial needs, matching the demand and supply of financial services, implementing tailored financial instruments, and evaluating and scaling up successful interventions. The paper also emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and showcases examples of using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve financial services in agriculture. The 2SCALE approach contributes to the growth and development of smallholder farmers and SMEs in the agri-business sector by providing affordable financial solutions.
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    Attracting the Youth to Agribusiness
    (2017) Thompson Ogunsanmi
    This document explores the importance of engaging youth in the agribusiness sector and presents examples of how 2SCALE, a consortium focused on inclusive agribusiness partnerships, addressed youth inclusion in its initiatives. Recognizing the need to make agriculture attractive and remunerative, 2SCALE emphasizes providing youth access to land, finance, and modern technologies. The document highlights youth challenges in the agricultural sector, such as limited resource access and under-employment. It stresses the need to tailor approaches to suit young individuals' diverse needs, ambitions, and resources. The document discusses the efforts made by 2SCALE partnerships in various countries, including Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, and Nigeria, to enhance youth participation in agricultural value chains. It sheds light on the role of financial institutions in supporting youth entrepreneurs by providing tailor-made loans and reducing collateral requirements. Additionally, it explores the issue of land access and the complexities of addressing land tenure challenges. Furthermore, the document explores opportunities beyond farming for youth in agribusiness, such as specialized service provision along the value chain. It showcases examples of young people offering services like pesticide spraying, tractor rental, and quality control management, improving value chain efficiency, and providing income alternatives to casual labor. The document also mentions micro-franchise models and off-farm activities as potential avenues for youth engagement in the sector.
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    BoP Markets as a Driver for Inclusive Value Chain and Business Development
    (2017) Hiwot Shimeles; Tekalgn Ayano; Mathias Ahounou
    This paper provides an overview of two partnerships between the GUTS Agro Industry, a nutritious food processing company in Ethiopia, and the 2SCALE consortium in two different contexts: Ethiopia and Benin. The partnerships aimed to develop and offer nutritional food products to base-of-the-pyramid (BoP) markets and improve value chain efficiency. In Ethiopia, the partnership focused on sourcing raw materials (maize and soybean) from smallholder farmers' organizations, improving quality and traceability, and developing a marketing and distribution strategy for a fortified food supplement called Supermom. The partnership improved farmer cooperatives' governance, increased production, reliable sourcing, and reduced costs for GUTS Agro-Industry. A micro-franchise distribution model was also implemented, empowering women as Likie micro-franchisees to sell the products door-to-door. In Benin, the partnership supported soybean producer and processor organizations to improve market development for soybean products, enhance incomes, and promote soybean-based products in the local market. The partnerships showcased the potential collaboration between agribusinesses and smallholder farmers or women processors, leading to improved value chain performance, market access, and socio-economic benefits for the involved stakeholders.
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    Building Inclusive Agribusiness: Going One Step Down the Ladder Makes a Difference
    (2017) Judith Chabari ; Olugbenga Stephen Idowu
    This report explores the advantages of partnering with intermediate trading and processing companies, specifically Psaltry in Nigeria and Shalem in Kenya, for inclusive agribusiness development. While interventions for market inclusiveness often focus on large industrial-scale firms or end users, the experiences with Psaltry and Shalem demonstrate the efficiency of collaborating with locally based intermediaries. These companies effectively facilitate collaboration between large off-takers (such as breweries) and smallholder farmers, leading to inclusive agribusiness outcomes. The involvement of large industrial end-users is crucial as they provide a stable bulk market and purchasing power, driving the supply chain and benefiting many smallholder farmers. The commitment of these large buyers to inclusive agribusiness can stimulate value chain innovation. For example, Nigerian Breweries supported Psaltry in upgrading its processing facility to increase local sourcing, expanding opportunities for cassava producers. Psaltry, a cassava trader and processor, established partnerships with smallholder farmers through a 2SCALE-facilitated public-private partnership—the collaboration aimed to improve the efficiency and inclusiveness of the cassava supply chain for Nigerian Breweries. Shalem, an aggregator of sorghum and other products, faced challenges regarding sourcing reliability and fair value for growers. The 2SCALE intervention supported capacity strengthening, improved supply chain management, and enhanced both Psaltry and Shalem farm-level efficiency. The interventions resulted in significant improvements, such as increased yields, reduced production costs for Psaltry, and improved productivity for Shalem. Both companies experienced positive impacts on their out-grower schemes, supplier relationships, and market competitiveness. Additionally, interventions addressed challenges faced by transporters, village agents, and other actors in the value chain. Lessons learned from these partnerships emphasize the advantages of working with intermediate trading and processing companies. The proximity of these companies to smallholder farmers allows for effective collaboration and responsiveness to local needs. Closeness to the grassroots enables better supply chain management, improved farm-level efficiency, negotiation of favorable business terms, and the development of loyalty programs. These findings highlight the potential of inclusive agribusiness development through partnerships with intermediaries.
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    Climate Resilient Soil Fertility Management Strategy for Rice Production in Submergence Prone Areas in Northern Ghana.
    (2017-10-23) Sampson Agyin-Birikorang; Wilson Dogbe; Cisse Boubakary
    Frequent flooding occurring in some parts of northern Ghana has negatively affected lowland rainfed rice production. Previous efforts to mitigate the problem focused mainly on varietal improvement. However, there is the need to find a technological fit between genotypes, and nutrient management strategies to ensure sustainable production. Adaptive trials were established in seven communities in northern Ghana to evaluate the effectiveness of the urea deep placement (UDP) technology in improving productivity in submergence prone areas using the submergence-tolerant rive varieties, NERICA L-19 and NERICA L-49 as test varieties. In each trial, the effectiveness of the UDP technology was compared with the microdosing (MD) technology and the locally recommended fertilizer management (LRP). Preliminary results across all seven locations showed that greatest yields and N uptake were observed from the UDP treatment, followed by the MD and the LRP treatments in that order, irrespective of rice variety used. The average grain yield obtained from the UDP treatment was 4 tons/ha and 4.2 tons/ha for the NERICA L-19 and L-49, respectively; those of the MD treatment were 3.1 tons/ha and 3.4 tons/ha; and those of the LRP treatment were 2.4 tons/ha and 2.6 tons/ha for the NERICA L-19 and L-49 respectively. Similarly, average N uptake across all seven locations showed ~65% N recovery from the UDP treatments ~44% for the MD treatment, and ~ 30% for the LRP treatment. Thus, the preliminary results suggest that the UDP technology could be an appropriate soil fertility management technology for submergence-prone areas, using submergence tolerance rice varieties. However, there is a need to repeat this trial for further investigations to validate the results and make appropriate recommendations.
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    Climate Smart Fertilizer Management in Rice Cultivation under Stress Prone Areas for Food Security and Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    (2018-10) Yam Kanta Gaihre; Upendra Singh; Myint Aung; Bandhu Raj Baral; Mohammad Hasnain
    More than 50% of applied nitrogen is not utilized by crops, posing huge economical costs and environmental concerns. Fertilizer management is more challenging for rice cultivation in stress-prone environments subject to drought, submergence, and salinity. Farmers in these areas have poor control over water and fertilizer application. For conventional broadcast application of nitrogen, farmers are often unable or unwilling to apply the follow-on splits. Fertilizer deep placement (FDP) could be a better alternative since it could be done before or at planting, ensures higher use efficiency due to reduction of losses (runoff and ammonia volatilization). FDP eliminates the need for additional split applications of urea and ensures higher yields. While FPD has proven its multiple benefits under favorable irrigated rice cultivation, but its effects under stress prone environments are still lacking. Multi-location experiments were conducted under drought, submergence and saline conditions in Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar to determine the effects FDP vs broadcast prilled urea (PU) on rice yields, nitrogen use efficiency and economic returns. Effects on nitrogen losses including floodwater ammonium, ammonia volatilization and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were measured in on-station trials in Bangladesh. Across the countries and stress environments, FDP increased grain yields and nitrogen use efficiency significantly compared to broadcast PU. Under drought condition, FDP increased grain yields by 12% (Bangladesh) to 21% (Nepal) compared to broadcast PU. Similarly, under saline condition, yield increment ranged from 10% (Bangladesh) to 40% (Myanmar) while saving urea fertilizer by up to 50%. Similar yield benefits and fertilizer savings were observed under submerged condition in Bangladesh and Myanmar. FDP significantly reduced nitrogen losses compared to broadcast PU. Broadcast PU resulted in higher amounts of ammonium in floodwater and ammonia volatilization, both of which were negligible in FDP treatments. Moreover, FDP reduced nitrous oxide emissions by 70% as compared to broadcast PU. These results confirm that FDP is equally effective if not more under stress environments than under favorable environment. FDP, in addition to saving N fertilizer and increasing crop productivity, reduces N losses as ammonia volatilization and greenhouse gas N2O emissions, could be considered a climate smart fertilizer management practice.
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    Cotton Fertilizer in West Africa
    (2022-11-10) Patrice Annequin
    This study examines the rapid expansion of the fertilizer market in West Africa, focusing on key metrics related to consumption, production, and utilization for cotton cultivation in eight countries. The fertilizer market has experienced substantial growth, with consumption doubling since 2010. However, a crisis in 2022 has resulted in a significant shortage of fertilizer in the region. The paper explores the dynamics of cotton production in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and other West African countries, highlighting the challenges and variations in social contexts. The analysis includes forecasts for cotton acreage and production, with emphasis on fertilizer consumption patterns. The study also delves into the distribution of fertilizer use across countries, revealing that the top four nations account for 85% of total consumption. Additionally, the research explores the fertilizer consumption per country for cotton production, detailing the specific NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) grades used. The paper concludes with an investigation into the strategies employed for fertilizer procurement and distribution in West African countries, particularly during crisis times. The study suggests improvements in procurement processes, trade finance, subsidy programs, and nutrient use efficiency to enhance the overall fertilizer market in the region.
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    Determinants of Rice Marketed Surplus in Togo: A Heckman Two-Stage Selection Approach
    (2013) Latha Nagarajan; Aliou Diagne; Anwar Naseem; Serge Adjognon
    This study examines the dynamics of rice consumption and production in Togo, a country where rice ranks third in consumption after maize and sorghum, constituting 3% of the total GDP. Despite a 17.40% growth in rice production from 2005 to 2008, consumption has outpaced domestic production, resulting in significant imports costing $7.5 million annually. The inefficiency of agricultural production efforts without a robust marketing system is highlighted. The research employs the Heckman 2 Stage Selection Model to analyze the major determinants of rice marketed surplus in Togo, with a particular focus on the impact of transaction costs. Data from the Consumer Preferences Survey (2010) conducted by the AfricaRice Center, involving 253 randomly selected rice producer households from five main regions, informs the analysis. The two-stage model involves a probit estimation to determine market participation factors and an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation to analyze marketed surplus. Results indicate a 76% market participation rate and an average marketed surplus of 2 tons. Factors such as household characteristics (schooling, gender, age, family size), market-related characteristics (paddy production, farmer-trader status, paddy price), and social network participation influence market outcomes. Region-specific effects and the Inverse Mill Ratio are also considered. The findings suggest that government interventions in the Maritimes and Kara regions have positively impacted market participation. However, considerable imperfections in the rice market chain, compounded by transaction costs, hinder efficient price transmission to farmers. The study underscores the importance of addressing market imperfections alongside efforts to boost rice production. The government and development agencies are urged to target these issues to enhance the overall effectiveness of interventions.
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    Does Blanket Fertilizer Recommendation Still Work? A Case Study of Maize Production in Northern Ghana.
    (2019) Salamatu Agmalooyong Nuhu; Abdul-Rahman A. Fuseini; Haruna W. Dauda; Job Fugice; Wendie D. Bible; Celia Sylvester; Andrew J. Medford ; Upendra Singh; Sampson Agyin-Birikorang
    Farmers in northern Ghana continue to use blanket fertilizer recommendations based on soil tests and experiments that are several decades old. Consequently, maize yields obtained by smallholder farmers are small fractions (< 40%) of potential yields, despite increases in the use of NPK fertilizers. To achieve sustainable growth in productivity, it is critical to consider the spatial soil fertility variability in order to re-design soil fertility recommendations. We collected over 15000 georeferenced soil samples across the entire northern region of Ghana to identify the limiting nutrients, and to develop soil fertility maps to aid site- and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations. The Grid/Management Zone Hybrid Soil Sampling Method was used to collect the soil samples. Within each community, fields were subdivided into an arrangement of cells of 2-4 km apart. Within each cell, management zones are established using a variety of resources and/or datasets. To validate soil analytical results, plant tissues samples were collected for analysis. The combined results of the soil and plant tissue analyses show that across the entire region, the soils are generally acid to slightly acidic with very few isolated cases where the soil pH is near neutral. Large portions are deficient in P (< 10 mg kg-1), S (< 6 mg kg-1), zinc (< 1 mg kg-1), B (< 1 mg kg-1) and K (< 80 mg kg-1). Therefore, to increase productivity, farmers need to supply these limiting essential plant nutrients to crops, and not limit themselves to the blanket application of only NPK fertilizers. To make site-specific fertilizer recommendations, nutrient omission trials are needed to identify quantities of each limiting nutrient to apply for sustainable increases in productivity and farm incomes.
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    Economic Rationale for Fertilizer Quality Regulations
    (2018) Joshua Ariga
    This presentation, delivered by Dr. Joshua Ariga at the International Workshop on Developing Private Sector Agro-Input Markets, discusses the economic rationale for implementing fertilizer quality regulations in Africa. Dr. Ariga represents the Partnership for Enabling Market Environments for Fertilizer in Africa (PEMEFA), a consortium of five partner organizations dedicated to transforming African agriculture by improving smallholder farmers' access to and use of fertilizers. The presentation explores the challenges in the fertilizer value chain, the impact of poor fertilizer quality, and recommendations for regulatory reforms to enhance fertilizer quality control and ensure the economic viability of the sector.
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    Effects of Micronutrient on Productivity and Profitability of Rice under Three Growing Environments in Tanzania
    (2018) Kalimuthu Senthilkumar; Fitta Silas Sillo; B.J. Tesha; Ibnou Dieng; Jonne Rodenburg; Kazuki Saito; E. Vandamme; Christian O. Dimkpa; Wendt John; Bindraban, Prem S.
    Rice production in sub-Saharan Africa is often limited by nutrient deficiencies, necessitating the application of micronutrients along with NPK fertilizers to enhance and sustain yields. This study aimed to compare the efficiency and effectiveness of foliar and soil-applied micronutrients in rice production and analyze their cost-effectiveness. Thirty on-farm trials were conducted in three rice-growing conditions: irrigated lowland, rainfed lowland, and upland. Multiple treatments were applied, including five foliar nutrient products and one soil application of micronutrients per trial, under two blocks of NPK and no NPK. The results revealed significant yield increases with the application of micronutrients in rainfed and irrigated lowlands, but the effectiveness in upland conditions remained unclear. Soil application of micronutrients showed higher yield and economic benefits than foliar application, albeit at higher application rates. Therefore, in Tanzania's rainfed and irrigated lowland conditions, soil and foliar application of micronutrients can be recommended, but further studies are required for confirmation. The study also highlighted the variability in micronutrients' efficiency and cost benefits across different rice growing conditions. The findings emphasize the importance of considering site-specific factors and the choice of application method for optimizing rice production in Tanzania.
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    Efficient Base of the Pyramid Marketing and Distribution Strategies
    (2017) Janet Macharia; Kwame Pipim
    Base of the pyramid (BoP) marketing and distribution strategies aim to tap into a consumer segment with low purchasing power while addressing their unique characteristics and operating within informal markets. This approach offers business opportunities to companies while improving food and nutrition security for BoP consumers. BoP marketing requires reducing product costs and ensuring proximity and convenience for consumers. The 4As approach (Awareness, Acceptability, Availability, Affordability) is tailored to the BoP market's needs. BoP consumers represent a large and important market segment, particularly in the food industry, with significant untapped potential. Successful BoP marketing and distribution strategies rely on a market-driven approach, even though many value chain actors may initially overlook the market opportunity the BoP presents. Pilot projects are often conducted to gather consumer insights, assess market suitability, and develop effective strategies. These pilots involve experimentation, trial, error, and iterative learning to create innovative marketing and distribution approaches. Partnerships with businesses or processors are typically initiated through existing public-private partnerships or proactive initiatives. To reach consumers effectively, BoP pilots explore distribution channels, such as door-to-door selling and micro franchises. The success of a pilot is evaluated based on sales volume, customer reach, and overall profitability. This evaluation informs the scaling or exit strategies for the partnership. Ultimately, BoP's marketing and distribution strategies aim to create sustainable business models that benefit both companies and BoP consumers.
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    Evaluation of Agronomic Effectiveness of Activated Phosphate Rock
    (2016-11-07) Sampson Agyin-Birikorang; Upendra Singh; Job Fugice; Wendie D. Bible; Joaquin Sanabria; Vaughn Henry
    Unlike water soluble phosphorus (P) fertilizers, most phosphate rocks (PRs) are non-reactive in agricultural soils, particularly in neutral to alkaline soils. One innovative and practical approach to enhancing PR agronomic efficiency is “activation” of the PRs with water soluble P (WSP) fertilizers. In greenhouse studies unreactive PR was activated with a modest amount of WSP at a ratio 20% WSP to 80% PR (4:1 PR/WSP ratio = “0.2 Activation”) and evaluated on three soils with varying acidity/alkalinity level (Hiwassee loam – 5.49, Greenville loam – 6.80, and Sumter – 7.57). Rice and soybeans were used as test crops during the spring/summer seasons, and wheat during the winter season. P uptake was determined at three growth stages (4 weeks after planting, anthesis, and grain filling). At maturity, the crops were harvested to determine grain and biomass yields, grain and straw P contents, and to calculate the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of the P sources. Irrespective of the soil, crop and planting season, significant improvement in the agronomic effectiveness of the “activated” PR was observed, with an average RAE value greater than 80%. The combined results suggests that, combination of a modest amount of WSP with PR could be a cost effective means of enhancing P availability in PRs without the soil pH constraint on the agronomic effectiveness of PRs. Further studies will evaluate the effectiveness of the “activated” PRs under field conditions.
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    Fertilizer and Nutrient Management Strategies to Build Soil Health in African Agriculture
    (2023-11) Bindraban, Prem S.; Upendra Singh; Rob JJ Groot; Bernard Vanlauwe; Kido Kouassi; Patrice Annequin
    There is broad consensus that sustainable intensification is the most effective pathway to improve food security and reduce poverty on the African continent. Healthy soils form the foundation to sustainably increase crop yields that can be maintained through Integrated Soil Fertility Management which integrates the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers for balanced nutrition along with other agronomic practices. However, current cultivation practices of insufficient use of fertilizers cause soil nutrient mining and degradation of African soils and farm communities to spiral into poverty. The African Union has embraced this notion to maintain the health of soils through ISFM and plans to endorse the approach at their Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in June 2023, in Dakar, Senegal. An action plan is under construction to implement soil health improvement practices. Awareness around the importance of soils and the need for the judicious use of fertilizers has been growing in the international development arena and donors are committing themselves to contribute to the action plan. This presentation will elaborate on the outcomes of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and the committed actions to improve soil health on the African continent for agricultural intensification.
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    Fertilizer Cost Chain Analysis
    (2018-10-16) Grace Chilande
    This document provides an overview of the major changes occurring in the fertilizer markets of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with a specific focus on Kenya. The shift from commodity purchasing to value chain development is explored, highlighting the evolving roles of distribution channel players and the increasing integration by manufacturers and traders. The importance of balanced nutrition for productivity enhancement and the detrimental effects of soil acidity are recognized. Additionally, governments' growing awareness of mounting food security issues is discussed. The country overview section focuses on Kenya's fertilizer market, highlighting key statistics such as the subsidized market and the dominance of maize and tea crops. The presence of fertilizer blenders, the historical use of certain products like DAP, issues related to compound fertilizers' adulteration, and limited institutional capacity regarding balanced nutrition and product options are outlined. Farmers' reluctance to change and the significance of a reasonable distribution network are also addressed. The publication delves into the fertilizer value chain, encompassing manufacturing, logistics, and margins. The Port of Mombasa is highlighted as a crucial hub, emphasizing its expansion and the estimated discharge rates for fertilizers. The port operations, customs clearance, warehousing, and transportation costs are discussed. Furthermore, the structure of Kenya's fertilizer market, including the national government's procurement and distribution model, commodity-based input-credit-output models, and independent importers, wholesalers, and retailers, is examined. The document concludes by presenting a comparison of retail fertilizer prices in Kenya and global prices, emphasizing the logistics challenges faced in the country. The impact of freight costs, demurrage fees, and port congestion on fertilizer prices is highlighted. The publication raises the question of how to lower fertilizer prices and invites further exploration into potential solutions.
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    Getting Plant nutrition Solutions to Scale Requires More than Technology Promotion
    (2019) Kirimi Peter
    The 2SCALE program aims to develop inclusive agri-business arrangements that ensure firms' sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness in local, regional, and international markets. It emphasizes inclusive participation and fair rewards for small producers, workers, and traders, regardless of gender, age, or other factors. While improving business relationships and value chain functioning is important, the primary production process often receives less attention. However, in growing food markets, improving agricultural productivity and produce quality can significantly enhance the income of smallholder producers. The 2SCALE program has successfully promoted plant nutrition solutions to improve productivity, and this report presents insights and lessons learned from their experiences. The program has focused on promoting various plant nutrition technologies to enhance nutrient use efficiency and productivity among smallholder producers. These technologies include Urea Deep Placement (UDP) for paddy rice production, inoculation of soybean fields with specific Rhizobium species, formulation of customized compound fertilizers based on particular crop requirements, and the use of stick planters for seeding and fertilizing in a single operation. Despite the proven effectiveness of these technologies, their adoption has been limited. Therefore, the program identified three main requirements for successful technology promotion: local testing and adaptation of technical solutions, sustainable business networks to support technology availability and use, and effective training and communication methods. Local testing and adaptation of technological solutions are crucial to ensure their relevance and suitability to the local context. For example, the UDP technology was adapted to Kenyan conditions through involvement from farmer cooperatives, the rice research institute, and the national irrigation board. Sustainable business networks play a vital role in producing and distributing soil nutrition inputs. Private enterprises must see a viable business case to invest in producing and distributing these inputs. The involvement of larger companies is often necessary to trigger change and promote adopting plant nutrient solutions. Complex business partnerships at different levels are usually required to support technology implementation. In the case of UDP, local production of briquettes was facilitated by farmer cooperatives, and service provision teams were developed to make the technology more accessible. Effective training and communication strategies are essential for behavior change and the successful adoption of plant nutrition solutions. The 2SCALE program integrated these activities into its agri-business partnerships and focused on making advisory services economically sustainable.
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    IFDC Modelling and Mapping Information System
    (IFDC, 2023) IFDC
    The publication discusses the importance of spatial analyses in determining the appropriate use and amount of fertilizers for different soil types, crops, weather conditions, and socio-economic factors. The research aims to optimize nutrient use efficiency, logistics, fertilizer value chain, and marketing strategies while assessing regional and national production volumes. The study utilizes legacy and new data, crop-soil modelling, advanced statistics, and machine learning to provide location and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations, yield predictions, and production volumes. Spatial mapping using machine learning and geostatistical methodologies is utilized to make baseline maps and adjust them with increasing data points. Soil chemical and physical properties, weather conditions, and fertilizer yield responses are analyzed to determine the appropriate fertilizer recommendation rates. The analysis provides insights into the optimal NPK composition and application rates for different soil types and crops and helps to identify the drivers for variability in crop yields.
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    Impacts of Urea Deep Placement with Intermittent Irrigation on Nitrous Oxide and Nitric Oxide Emissions and Nitrogen Use Efficiency from Lowland Rice Cultivation
    (2018-10) S.M. Mofijul Islam; Yam Kanta Gaihre; Upendra Singh; Jatish Chandra Biswas; Md. Nayeem Ahmed; Joaquin Sanabria; Bjoern Ole Sander; Mohammad Saleque
    Urea deep placement (UDP) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation method are two promising rice production technologies. However, studies on the impacts of UDP under AWD irrigation on nitrous oxide (N2O) nitric oxide (NO) emissions are still limited. We investigated the effects of UDP on N2O and NO emissions, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and rice yields compared with conventional broadcast application of prilled urea (PU) under AWD irrigation. Emissions were measured from three fertilizer treatments — no N, UDP and PU using an automated gas sampling and analysis system continuously for two consecutive Boro (dry) rice seasons in Bangladesh. For UDP, urea briquettes were placed in 7-10 cm below soil surface between four hills of rice at each alternate row after ten days of transplanting, while PU was applied as broadcast in three equal splits. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications and emissions were measured at every three-hour interval. N2O emissions were irregular and event specific. Fertilizer induced emission peaks were observed after broadcast application of prilled urea (PU), but they were not observed in UDP. However, emissions peaks during dry period were more prominent in UDP compared to PU. Nevertheless, seasonal cumulative N2O emissions were similar between UDP and PU treatments. Across the season, UDP and PU showed yield-scaled N2O emission 96.3 and 88.7 g t–1 grain and emission factors were 0.49 and 0.23%, respectively. In contrast to N2O emission, NO fluxes were small and not affected by either fertilizer or water management. Across the season, UDP significantly increased rice yield, agronomic use efficiency and recovery efficiency of N by 29%, 109% and 167%, respectively compared to broadcast PU. Since UDP significantly increased grain yield and NUE compared to broadcast PU, and maintained similar emissions of N2O with PU, UDP could be equally effective under AWD irrigation as with continuous flooding condition. Therefore, UDP might be considered an eco-friendly technology for improving rice yields and reducing GHG emissions, particularly N2O emissions in both water regimes.
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    Implementation of the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizers for an African Green Revolution
    (2009-06-16) Maria Wanzala-Mlobela
    This presentation discusses the implementation of the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizers for an African Green Revolution, focusing on the efforts to address the fertilizer crisis in Africa. The report presents an overview of the progress made at the regional and country levels, particularly in areas like harmonization of legislation, regional procurement, fertilizer production, and intra-regional trade. It also highlights the challenges faced and provides recommendations for future actions, including the need for accurate data on fertilizer consumption, improved regulation, and the establishment of the African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM). The report emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable and market-friendly fertilizer practices to enhance agricultural productivity in Africa.