Agricultural Input Policies under Structural Adjustment: Their Distributional Implications

摘要

The privatization of markets for agricultural inputs, especially fertilizer, and the consequent removal of subsidies for these inputs have been key elements of Ghana's economic reform program. The paper explores the practical and distributional implications of this policy. After an introduction, individual chapters examine: (1) fertilizer availability and distribution, including trends in fertilizer prices and the demand for fertilizer; (2) experiences of the privatization program to date; (3) markets for nonfertilizer inputs (e.g., pesticides, seeds, and machinery); and (4) statistical analyses of the distributional consequences of privatization. A table detailing agricultural input use by gender of household head is also included.