Fertilizer Utilization Practices and Crop Response Research: Recommendations for the Fertilizer Sub-Sector Reform Program of Cameroon

摘要

The report analyzes the reasons behind the unevenness of fertilizer use in Cameroon. The West, Littoral, and the three northern provinces represent three-quarters of total fertilizer consumption, and the South and Center Provinces together account for less than 2%. To a large degree, the patterns reflect the different crops grown in each province. However, even for a given crop, fertilization rates are higher in the provinces of high overall fertilizer consumption. This may be because greater use of fertilizer in a region helps establish supply lines which, in turn, facilitate fertilizer use among farmers who would not otherwise use it. Additional factors affecting fertilizer use include farmers' purchasing power, cropping patterns, distance to major roads, population density, and the effectiveness of local supply institutions such as cooperatives. The report reviews fertilizer crop response research in Cameroon. Recommendations are then presented for future research activities, such as the development of a national fertilizer response database, on-farm fertilizer response trials, farmer demonstrations, strengthening of governmental research institutions, and soil ecology.