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Comparison between India and Ethiopian fertilizer use. Shawel Betru International Environmental Economics. India. Agricultural in India. Indian agricultural policy has dramatically changed before and after 1947 independence Focus from export crops to food crops
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Comparison between India and Ethiopian fertilizer use • ShawelBetru • International Environmental Economics
Agricultural in India • Indian agricultural policy has dramatically changed before and after 1947 independence • Focus from export crops to food crops • Food security has guided overall policy • High government involvement • New Agricultural Strategy: • Chemical fertilizer • high yielding variety • Irrigation
Increasing production of fertilizer • Caused by • Commissioning of new gas based plants in 1980s • Increasing capacity utilization 60% in 1970 to 90% in 1990s • Most of nitrogen fertilizer production is controlled by public sector • Lower capacity utilization
Present trends • Decreasing and abandoning fertilizer subsidy • Changing feedstock from naphtha and coal to LNG • Joint venture aboard: Senegal, Jordan, Iran and Oman
Fertilizer policy, Ethiopia • The first comprehensive fertilizer policy was introduced in 1993 by TGE (transitional government) • Between 1985-1993 the parastatal corporation called AISCO completely and officially controlled fertilizer sector • 1993- fertilizer subsidy was introduced • Meant to offset effect of currency devaluation • Subsidy did not exceed 25% of unsubsidized price • 1997-1998- price decontrol was made
Fertilizer production and import • There is no production of inorganic chemical fertilizers in Ethiopia • In 1993 the government and WB intended to establish fertilizer factory • but there is no fertilizer factory in Ethiopia and therefore, all inorganic fertilizers.
Import and marketing • Fertilizer import in Ethiopia is controlled by parastatal companies YARA AISCO Dinsho (oromia) Ambasel (Amhara) Wondo ( South ) Guna ( Tigray) DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA
Import and marketing • Regional governments guarantee development banks on fertilizers credit • The development agents are responsible for collection of credits • Availability of credit is mostly politicized especially during elections
Import and marketing • Inaccessibility of farming areas and absence of sea port increased price and decreased use • Possibility of increasing arable land discouraged fertilizer use • In the past price of crops were controlled by the government which disfavor farmers • Ineffective extension system that depend of propaganda than actual profitability
Policy objectives failures • The number of people with chronic food shortage has increased to more than 5 million • There are no private companies in any form • No significant progress in establishing fertilizer factory
Conclusion • India has room for improvement in fertilizer production and use • Policy change is obstructed by interest groups • Need institutional stability • Ethiopia has the potential to initiate production of nitrogen fertilizer and increase use • Encouraging private companies involvement • Better market environment • Efficient use of extension agents
Next plan • Prospect of fertilizer supply in India • Policy changes required in fertilizer sector • Potential of establishing Ethiopian fertilizer industry