The Impact of Organic Fertilizer Among Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

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https://precisiondev.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jan_25_The-Impact-of-Organic-Fertilizer.pdf

Abstract:

This study examines the relationship between organic fertilizer usage and its various benefits in the setting of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. There is robust agronomic evidence of the impact of organic fertilizer on soil fertility, and agricultural productivity and profitability, and suggestive evidence of the environmental benefits and economic viability of organic fertilizer. Additional rigorous evaluations on organic fertilizers’ impacts and cost-effectiveness could be helpful to inform policy recommendations further. The adoption of organic fertilizer remains low because of insufficient local manufacturing capacity, limited knowledge of the benefits of using organic fertilizers, and labor and financial constraints faced by farmers. Commercial organic fertilizers coupled with digital extension services have the potential to overcome some of those adoption barriers, and therefore improve farmers’ usages and welfare.