Increasing the Profitability of Fertilizer by Financed-Constrained Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors

Jim A. Jansen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Charles S. Wortmann, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Matt Strockton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Charles S. Wortmann

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Cornhusker Economics (February 27, 2013)

Comments

Published by University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Department of Agricultural Economics. Copyright © [2013] Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. http://agecon.unl.edu/cornhuskereconomics

Abstract

Low commercial fertilizer use by smallholder farmers in developing regions of the world commonly limits productivity. Many of these farmers do not have the financial capacity to purchase enough fertilizer to maximize net returns on their limited investment per hectare. High fertilizer costs and low commodity prices often reduce profit potential, and competing needs for money often take priority. Such farmers need high net returns on their investments to justify the application of fertilizers.