The Impact of the Global Fertilizer Crisis in Africa

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic and recent geo-political conflict has combined to significantly disrupt the global fertilizer supply chains and cause disproportionate fertilizer price hikes and shortages in Africa. This study assessed the effects of the fertilizer crisis on prices and availability, and the macro- and microlevel responses of stakeholders and farmers in Kenya and Ghana. Fertilizer prices doubled since the onset of the crisis with various interventions implemented at the country, continent, and global levels in response to the crisis, while at the local level farmers adopted a wide range of coping strategies.