Fertilizers Reaching Farmers’ Hands
Authors:
Brian Kiger (bkiger@ifdc.org); Ketline Adodo (kadodo@ifdc.org)
The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a public international organization addressing critical issues such as international food security, the alleviation of global hunger and poverty, environmental protection and the promotion of economic development and self-sufficiency. IFDC focuses on increasing productivity across the agricultural value chain in developing countries. This is achieved by the creation and transfer of effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness expertise. IFDC is governed by an international board of directors with representation from developed and developing nations. The non-profit Center is supported by bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, private foundations and national governments. IFDC was established in 1974 in response to global food and energy crises. To date, IFDC has provided assistance in nearly 100 countries. Introduction Haladu Abdu, chairman of Jumar Kwari Kamfa Fadama Farmers Cooperative (Wudil, Kano), just paid for two 50-kg bags of mineral fertilizer upon presentation of a voucher coupon that was allotted to each member of his farmer group two weeks earlier in Kano State, Nigeria. ―The great advantage of the voucher program is that fertilizer is distributed almost on our doorsteps,‖ he says. ―Many of us had not seen fertilizers for a long time. Last year, with this program, we received three bags each, this year it’s two bags, but this is still good. Once, we were entitled to two bags for our entire community!‖ Mr. Abdu was one of a total of 300,000 farmers who were targeted in Bauchi, Kano, Kwara and Taraba states with an opportunity to purchase a select amount of government-subsidized fertilizers. This initiative fell under the 2010 Fertilizer Voucher Program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development