Improving Judicious Use of Fertilizers by Smallholder Farmers in Developing Countries.

The world population crossed 7 billion in 2011 and is expected to be around 9.2 billion by 2050. Urban populations in the developing regions are projected to dominate this growth - more than doubling from the current 2.6 billion to an estimated 5.3 billion by 2050. Smallholder farmers play a vital role in the overall food supply chain in developing countries. Their role will be even more critical because of the population growth, urbanization and economic development trends.  Access to fertilizers by smallholder farmers is crucial, but they face several challenges including (1) accessibility, (2) affordability and (3) incentives to use it. In several developing countries, supply (availability) of fertilizers in terms of volume, diversity, and quality are inadequate resulting in suboptimal output of crops.  Measures to reduce the price the farmers pay (affordability) for fertilizers remain a major concern, particularly after the extraordinary increases in fertilizer prices in 2008. Farmers will have greater incentives to use fertilizers if output markets function well and farmers can earn adequate and stable prices for their produce.  Incentives for fertilizer use can also be improved by fostering research and extension that increase their effectiveness. This paper will provide examples of successful initiatives, including public-private partnerships, to alleviate the challenges of accessibility, affordability and incentives for judicious use of fertilizers by smallholder farmers in developing countries.