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Effects if Fertilizer Subsidies in Zambia: A Literature Review

Author

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  • Zinnbauer, Maximilian
  • Mockshell, Jonathan
  • Zeller, Manfred

Abstract

Fertilizer subsidies are again part of the policy agenda in Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s. Governments spend large shares of their agricultural budgets and their means to fight poverty on such programmes, but economists formulated doubts whether these investments will pay off. This paper reviews the existing literature on effects of fertilizer subsidies in Zambia, presents an analytical framework on input subsidies and compares the empirical evidence to the goals of the fertilizer subsidy. Major findings are that the subsidy programme has failed to substantially reduce poverty and to improve food security via decreased maize prices. Farm incomes have increased moderately, but the overall costs exceed the benefits by far. Reasons for this are identified as poor targeting, diversion and leakage. The paper concludes with a review of policy recommendations, mainly focused on improved targeting and diversification away from pure fertilizer subsidies.

Suggested Citation

  • Zinnbauer, Maximilian & Mockshell, Jonathan & Zeller, Manfred, 2018. "Effects if Fertilizer Subsidies in Zambia: A Literature Review," MPRA Paper 84125, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:84125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    15. Jayne, Thomas S. & Mason, Nicole M. & Burke, William J. & Shipekesa, Arthur M. & Chapoto, Antony & Kabaghe, Chance, 2011. "Mountains of Maize, Persistent Poverty," Food Security Collaborative Policy Briefs 118476, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
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    17. Levine, N. Kendra & Mason, Nicole M. & Morgan, Stephen N., 2016. "Do input subsidies crowd in or crowd out other soil fertility management practices? Panel survey evidence from Zambia," 2016 Fifth International Conference, September 23-26, 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 246393, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2019. "Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Use in Rural Nigeria," Research Africa Network Working Papers 19/055, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    2. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo‐Obasi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2019. "Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Use in Rural Nigeria," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 31(3), pages 348-363, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fertilisier subsidies; input subsidies; Zambia; food security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness

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