Ghana’s fertilizer subsidy policy: early field lessons from farmers in the Central Region

Abstract

This paper presents early field lessons on Ghana’s Fertilizer Subsidy Program from two farming communities in the Central Region. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approach was used to assess the availability, access, and use of subsidized fertilizer by small-holder farmers in the two communities. The findings show that there is considerable scope for improvement in the distribution of coupons and fertilizers to ensure higher effectiveness of fertilizer and to render farmers’ participation in the program more sustainable. Price and nonprice factors combine to constrain access to subsidized fertilizer. Finally, few farmers have actually benefited from the subsidy program. The respondents, though were generally dissatisfied, conceded that the program is essential and needs to be continued. The paper signals the need for adjustments, which could have macro-scale implications for the sustainable management of the subsidy program