Revisiting Agricultural Input and Farm Support Subsidies in Africa: The Case of Ghana's Mechanization, Fertilizer, Block Farms, and Marketing Programs

Benin, Samuel; Johnson, Michael E.; Abokyi, Emmanuel; Ahorbo, Gerald; Jimah, Kipo; Nasser, Gamel; Owusu, Victor; Taabazuing, Joe; Tenga, Albert

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2373185

Cited by 59 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…As such, the reported low soil nutrient contents threaten crop and soil productivity. Although this study has no information on yield output, a report by Benin et al [17] revealed enhanced crop yield in the country during seasons of increased inorganic fertilizer application due to subsidy placement. Soils in both zones are similar in characteristics but exist in different climates [18].…”

Section: Fertilization Type and Climate Effects On Soil Chemical Propmentioning

confidence: 79%

Impacts of Fertilization Type on Soil Microbial Biomass and Nutrient Availability in Two Agroecological Zones of Ghana

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The decline in soil productivity amidst efforts to increase crop yield in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) has made it imperative to assess the current fertilization management approaches. This study was conducted in two agroecological zones (i.e., Guinea Savannah (GS) and Deciduous forest (DF)) of Ghana to evaluate how different fertilization schemes in the long term (>5 years) impacted the soil biochemical properties. Soil samples under four fertilization schemes (inorganic fertilizer only, low-to-medium organic residues only, inorganic fertilizers plus low-to-medium organic residues, and no fertilization) from 20 farmers' field were sampled from March to April 2015. Soil biochemical quality indicators were determined using standard procedures. Overall, the average chemical and microbial biomass contents for most indicators were significantly higher in DF compared to GS. Relative to the reference sites, soil quality improvement were observed under inorganic fertilization in both agroecologies in contrast to significant soil deterioration (26.5%) under sole organic residue application in GS. Furthermore, the results showed that increased inorganic fertilization rate alone or combination with organic residues improved soil quality relative to the reference. The present results suggest the need to raise the current fertilizer application rates, especially in GS in order to enhance optimum soil productivity.

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Section: Fertilization Type and Climate Effects On Soil Chemical Propmentioning

confidence: 79%

Impacts of Fertilization Type on Soil Microbial Biomass and Nutrient Availability in Two Agroecological Zones of Ghana

et al. 2017

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“…This occurred when farmers in the U.S. in the 1930s ignored soil erosion, which led to the Dust Bowl (Baumhardt 2003). For Ghana, Adjei et al (2003) and Benin et al (2013) raised concerns about soil erosion due to disc ploughing as well. A related problem is information asymmetry, which was mentioned above for the case of farmers who hire tractor services.…”

Section: Market Failurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The government might also lack the capacity to ensure repayment, even if the programmes were not intended to be Bgiveaways.B oth problems pose threats to subsidised lending because the revenue recovery will be insufficient to ensure the financial sustainability of such schemes. For example, Benin et al (2013) found that the repayment of AMSEC tractors in Ghana was only 35%. Moreover, public spending on tractors can also crowd out private investment.…”

Section: State Failurementioning

confidence: 99%

The neglected governance challenges of agricultural mechanisation in Africa – insights from Ghana

2017

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After decades of neglect, agricultural mechanisation is back on the development agenda in Africa. Taking the mechanisation efforts of Ghana as an example, this paper analyses the governance challenges involved in government and private sector efforts to promote mechanisation in smallholderbased farming systems. To identify these governance challenges, this paper develops a conceptual framework that combines the agricultural innovation system approach with the concepts of New Institutional Economics. Two qualitative empirical methods were used to apply the framework: the Net-Map technique, which is a participatory mapping tool, and expert / key informant interviews. The results show that next to well-known problems such as market failures concerning access to spare-parts supplies and credit, mechanisation is constrained by missing institutions, particularly those that would be required to ensure adequate skill development of tractor-operators and technicians. In addition, exchange rate fluctuations and impeding customs practices prevent stronger private sector involvement in mechanisation. Governance challenges such as political interest and elite capture were found to limit the effectiveness of government imports of tractors and machinery. The findings suggest that instead of focusing on the supply of subsidised machinery, the government could be more effective by investing in institutional development to strengthen the agricultural innovation system for mechanisation and to support emerging private sector initiatives.

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“…This success gave impetus to the pro-subsidy lobby and led to the unanimous commitment of the African Union states to increasing input use through 'market-smart' subsidies to promote food crop yields, mainly of maize (AU 2006). Since the food and input price spikes in 2008, donors such as the World Bank have been supporting these programmes (Benin et al 2013).…”

Section: Input Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Tanzania and Nigeria these activities were undertaken by the private sector, which promoted the development of a private input sector through the increased input demand created by subsidies (Liverpool-Tasie and Takeshima 2013; URT 2014), while in Zambia and Ghana input delivery was limited to a few contracted, big input supplier companies, which reduced competition Benin et al 2013). There were problems in input delivery -late input delivery being the inherent problem -due to lack of administrative capacities of the government and/or lack of capacity of the agro-dealers.…”

Section: Input Deliverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Input Subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kato¹,

Greeley²

2016

IDS Bulletin

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Revisiting Agricultural Input and Farm Support Subsidies in Africa: The Case of Ghana's Mechanization, Fertilizer, Block Farms, and Marketing Programs

Cited by 59 publications

References 27 publications

Impacts of Fertilization Type on Soil Microbial Biomass and Nutrient Availability in Two Agroecological Zones of Ghana

Impacts of Fertilization Type on Soil Microbial Biomass and Nutrient Availability in Two Agroecological Zones of Ghana

The neglected governance challenges of agricultural mechanisation in Africa – insights from Ghana

Agricultural Input Subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa

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