Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

This study assess the factors influencing smallholder maize farmers' fertilizer use under the fertilizer subsidy programme in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, with a sample of 400 smallholder maize farmers in the Northern Region interviewed using a questionnaire to collect the needed data for the study. Descriptive statistics and a multinomial logistic regression model was employed to assess the drivers of farmers' decisions to apply low (less than 50 kg/acre), medium (about 100 kg/acre), high (more than 150 kg/acre), or no fertilizer at all were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that proximity to subsidized fertilizer distributors, access to credit, use of improved maize varieties, access to extension services, and availability of labor had significant positive effects on farmers' fertilizer application rates. Conversely, pest and insect attacks were found to deter farmers from applying optimal quantities of fertilizer. The study revealed that the current application rate of fertilizer among smallholder maize farmers is an average of 80 Kg of NPK and an average of 40 Kg of ammonia. While a majority of farmers apply fertilizer, the actual quantities used often deviate from the recommended rates, with some over-applying and others under-applying. The study recommends improving access to subsidized fertilizers, enhancing credit availability, promoting improved maize varieties, strengthening extension services, implementing integrated pest management strategies, and encouraging soil testing and site-specific nutrient management. By addressing these key factors, policymakers and development practitioners can work towards enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of fertilizer use among smallholder maize farmers in the region.