Africa: Fertiliser subsidies and sustainable agricultural growth

The role of input subsidies in stimulating growth and addressing food security and poverty alleviation objectives has re-emerged as an important debate in agricultural policy. Sharp increases in world food and fertiliser prices in 2007 and 2008 have created a sense of urgency in meeting productivity and social welfare goals, and have put fertiliser subsidies high on the list of options for government and donor responses to the crisis.