Models of commercial biofertiliser production: Experiences with BioGro

摘要

The commercial production of a microbial fertiliser such as BioGro presents a number of challenges. The applicability of various production models (village/communal, entrepreneurial) in different circumstances was investigated, with the aim of providing guidelines for the establishment of these new enterprises. Insights from supply chain management and transaction costs theory were used to understand the potential difficulties that could face commercial producers of BioGro. A sustained demand for BioGro (especially on rice) is still to be developed and this has created difficulties for commercial production. Less than 50 per cent of production businesses have survived for more than 2 years. Successful factories are private businesses that produce BioGro as a specialist product and actively promote their product. Extension and farmer training are needed but, currently, producers have limited capacity to invest in training for farmers, and experts in the technology are limited.