Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service

Fertilizer consumption rates in Nigeria remains among the lowest in the world despite decades of aggressive subsidization. The extension service in Nigeria has a double-edged impact on fertilizer use in the country; not only can their activities increase farmers' demand for fertilizer, but also the...

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Main Authors: Banful, Afua Branoah, Nkonya, Ephraim M., Oboh, Victor
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154219
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author Banful, Afua Branoah
Nkonya, Ephraim M.
Oboh, Victor
author_browse Banful, Afua Branoah
Nkonya, Ephraim M.
Oboh, Victor
author_facet Banful, Afua Branoah
Nkonya, Ephraim M.
Oboh, Victor
author_sort Banful, Afua Branoah
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Fertilizer consumption rates in Nigeria remains among the lowest in the world despite decades of aggressive subsidization. The extension service in Nigeria has a double-edged impact on fertilizer use in the country; not only can their activities increase farmers' demand for fertilizer, but also the organizational framework of the service, Agricultural Development Programs, is the major source of fertilizer for farmers. To provide insights on the reasons for the low fertilizer use in Nigeria, this paper presents an analysis of the extension service as well as some perspectives of village extension agents. We find that the reach of the extension service is severely limited by low staff. The main technology transmitted is the use of improved seeds. Fertilizer technology is seldom transmitted and very rarely is irrigation taught. Furthermore, extension agents are found to have gaps in their knowledge of fertilizer technology. Extension agents routinely distribute agricultural inputs and many see their advisory role as secondary to this function. Extension agents identified the primary constraint to fertilizer use in Nigeria as the physical absence of the product at the time that it is needed, rather than lack of affordability or farmers' lack of knowledge about the benefits or the use of fertilizer.
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spelling CGSpace1542192025-11-06T07:18:06Z Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service Banful, Afua Branoah Nkonya, Ephraim M. Oboh, Victor extension fertilizers subsidies agricultural growth Fertilizer consumption rates in Nigeria remains among the lowest in the world despite decades of aggressive subsidization. The extension service in Nigeria has a double-edged impact on fertilizer use in the country; not only can their activities increase farmers' demand for fertilizer, but also the organizational framework of the service, Agricultural Development Programs, is the major source of fertilizer for farmers. To provide insights on the reasons for the low fertilizer use in Nigeria, this paper presents an analysis of the extension service as well as some perspectives of village extension agents. We find that the reach of the extension service is severely limited by low staff. The main technology transmitted is the use of improved seeds. Fertilizer technology is seldom transmitted and very rarely is irrigation taught. Furthermore, extension agents are found to have gaps in their knowledge of fertilizer technology. Extension agents routinely distribute agricultural inputs and many see their advisory role as secondary to this function. Extension agents identified the primary constraint to fertilizer use in Nigeria as the physical absence of the product at the time that it is needed, rather than lack of affordability or farmers' lack of knowledge about the benefits or the use of fertilizer. 2010 2024-10-01T14:00:16Z 2024-10-01T14:00:16Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154219 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160044 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Banful, Afua Branoah; Nkonya, Ephraim M.; Oboh, Victor. 2010. Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1010. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154219
spellingShingle extension
fertilizers
subsidies
agricultural growth
Banful, Afua Branoah
Nkonya, Ephraim M.
Oboh, Victor
Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title_full Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title_fullStr Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title_full_unstemmed Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title_short Constraints to fertilizer use in Nigeria: Insights from agricultural extension service
title_sort constraints to fertilizer use in nigeria insights from agricultural extension service
topic extension
fertilizers
subsidies
agricultural growth
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/154219
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AT nkonyaephraimm constraintstofertilizeruseinnigeriainsightsfromagriculturalextensionservice
AT obohvictor constraintstofertilizeruseinnigeriainsightsfromagriculturalextensionservice