Why are African farmers not using fertilizer today?
A combination of high cost and low availability keep fertilizer out of farmers hands. African farmers pay two-to-six times the world average price for fertilizers. Poor transport, low trade volumes, and lack of local production capacity contribute to this high cost. For example, it costs more to transport fertilizers from an African seaport to a farm 100 km inland than it does to ship those same fertilizers from North America to Africa. Furthermore, fertilizer is not readily available. Farmers often must travel considerable distances to get essential farm inputs, such as fertilizer and improved seed. Even then, it may be packaged in quantities or combinations that do not make economic sense for a small farm. A lasting solution to this farming crisis calls for the right policies and robust distribution networkswith adequate credit sources, retail outlets, transportation, and markets, as well as transfer of technology and knowledge. Q: What role do fertilizers play in the global food sup
