Reckoning the risks and rewards of fertilizer micro-dosing in a sub-humid farming system in Tanzania

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dc.creatorMwinuka, Lutengano
dc.creatorMutabazi, Khamaldin Daud
dc.creatorMakindara, Jeremia
dc.creatorSieber, Stefan
dc.date2020-03-23T12:18:41Z
dc.date2020-03-23T12:18:41Z
dc.date2016
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-27T10:55:31Z
dc.date.available2021-03-27T10:55:31Z
dc.descriptionAbstract. Full Text is available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2016.1257537
dc.descriptionSmallholder farmers are reluctant to risk investing in fertilizers. To understand how risk is perceived and how economic returns are distributed before the decision to invest in fertilizer use is made, needs a systematic approach using localized applications. This study assesses the profitability and net return variability of fertilizer micro-dosing (MD) in the sub-humid rain-fed maize (Zea mays L.) farming system in Tanzania. Useful data was gathered from a household baseline survey, water and nutrient limited calibrated yields, marginal costs and yields from farmers’ field trials, along with other information from expert and historical data. Crop yields, crop prices and prices for key production inputs (mainly fertilizer) were simulated for the net economic return distributions for maize under different fertilizer MD rates using the Economic and Nutritional Impact Assessment Model (FARMSIM), which is supported by Simulation and Econometrics to Analyse Risk (SIMETAR). The results show relative differences in stochastic returns between water and nutrient limited (without fertilizer MD) and with fertilizer MD scenarios. Farmers are likely to adopt fertilization technologies if best agronomic practices are promoted through farmer groups and field schools, fertilizers are re-packaged into small quantities for ease of purchase and access, and the coverage of subsidized fertilizers is increased.
dc.identifierMwinuka, L., Mutabazi, K. D., Makindara, J., & Sieber, S. (2016). Reckoning the risks and rewards of fertilizer micro-dosing in a sub-humid farming system in Tanzania. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 8(5-6), 497-508.
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2016.1257537
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/2305
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/2305
dc.languageen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.subjectFarm budget
dc.subjectEconomic returns simulation
dc.subjectMicro fertilization
dc.subjectSimetar
dc.subjectSub-humid agriculture
dc.subjectFertilizer micro-dosing
dc.subjectSmall holder farmers
dc.subjectRain-fed maize
dc.subjectFarming system
dc.subjectFertilizer technology
dc.titleReckoning the risks and rewards of fertilizer micro-dosing in a sub-humid farming system in Tanzania
dc.typeArticle

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