Perceptions, Quality, and Uncertainty in Ghanaian Fertiliser Markets

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.