Assessing fertiliser options for sustainable maize production in Africa

<p><i>Factsheet 1 is dedicated to the assessment of fertiliser options for sustainable maize production in Africa. </i></p><p>There is a need for sustainable maize production in Africa due to growing food demand and declining soil fertility. This factsheet suggests the promotion and upscaling of organic fertilizer and intergrated soil fertility management (ISFM) options for sustainable maize production in east and west Africa regions based on findings from research carried out in Ghana and Kenya under the EWA-BELT project (GA 862848). Strategies to increase organic fertilizer production should be pursued by governments and all stakeholders.</p&gt

Maize ISFM - Economic and environmental viability of organic fertilisation for sustainable maize production in Africa

<p><i>Policy Brief 1 on Integrated Soil Fertility Management Practices is dedicated to maize.</i></p><p>There is the need for sustainable crop (maize) production in Africa due to growing food demand and the declining soil fertility nexus. This policy brief is aimed at publishing the findings of a research that evaluated the economic and environmental viability of organic fertilizer in maize production. Maize being the most important cereal in sub-Sahara Africa. Three fertilization options (organic, organic + inorganic and inorganic) were tested in east and west Africa to assess their economic and environment feasibility. The major findings include:</p><ul><li>Maize yields increases under all three fertilizer options in both the short to long term, however the yields grows faster under full organic fertilizer than the others producing the highest yields in the long term with better soil health contribution.</li><li>All fertilizer options are profitable in both short to long term, but organic amendment generates the highest benefits in both short and long term.</li><li>Proportional increased in output price and input cost results in increase farm profit similar to the effect of inflation.</li><li>The main limiting factor to organic fertilizer use is the unavailability of organic fertilizer</li></ul><p>Organic fertilizer and intergrated options are recommended for sustainable maize production in east and west Africa regions. Strategies to increase organic fertilizer production should be pursued by governments.</p&gt