The Journal of Development Studies· 2026Q1
Perceptions, Quality, and Uncertainty in Ghanaian Fertiliser Markets
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Ghanaian agricultural input dealers and farmers overestimate substandard fertiliser prevalence, while local lab tests erroneously flag quality issues, contrasting with international lab findings that confirm labelled nutrient content.
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Key points
- Agricultural input dealers perceive fertiliser quality lower than farmers do.
- Both dealers and farmers estimate substandard fertiliser prevalence higher than chemical tests find.
- Local laboratory tests erroneously reported fertilisers below standard quality.
- An international laboratory confirmed fertiliser samples contained average labelled nutrient quantities.
- Media reports on fake fertilisers exacerbate farmer uncertainty.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Fertiliser use among smallholder farmers in Africa is often thought of as a pathway to improved agricultural productivity and reduced poverty. However, farmers’ perceptions of substandard quality of fertiliser may hinder adoption. To examine this, we analyse perceptions of fertiliser quality along the input supply chain in Ghana and also chemically test collected fertiliser samples. We find that agricultural input dealers perceive fertiliser quality to be lower than farmers do, though both estimate the prevalence of substandard fertiliser at much higher rates than what chemical tests find. Local laboratory tests erroneously reported that fertilisers were, on average, well below standard quality. However, an international laboratory found the same samples contained, on average, the labelled quantity of plant nutrients. Many local media outlets report on fake and substandard fertilisers, compounding the already complicated learning environment for farmers.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. The Journal of Development Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
General Agricultural and Biological SciencesAgricultural and Biological Sciences