Abstract
There is a growing concern about the sustainability of agriculture due to the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in several parts of the world. In India, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is a region where the externalities of excessive use of chemical fertilizers for cereal production manifest in groundwater pollution, air pollution due to emissions, and soil degradation. In this context, we study the adoption of organic fertilizers in the region and the determining factors. We use data collected from 400 rice farmers to empirically test the link between farmers’ perceptions, revenue expectations, socioeconomic factors, and the policy environment to adopt organic fertilizers. We use Tobit and Cragg’s double hurdle model to study the farmers’ expenditure and adoption of organic fertilizers, respectively. The results show that only 32% of the farmers adopted organic fertilizers in the region. Further, membership in farmer organizations, training, and education are the key variables that determine the adoption of organic fertilizers, in addition to a positive perception of the benefits of their usage. The findings highlight the need for efficient extension efforts in organic fertilizers and suggest policy interventions that promote collective learning through farmer groups.
Highlights
Fertilizers have played a crucial role in raising global food production and achieving food security [1]
Using data from a comprehensive survey of rice farmers in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), India, we studied the expenditure on organic fertilizers and the factors determining its adoption and quantity used
The findings are relevant since the adoption of organic fertilizers in the region was found to be lower, policy options should be suggested to increase its usage
Summary
Fertilizers have played a crucial role in raising global food production and achieving food security [1]. The close causal link between global cereal production and chemical fertilizer consumption is widely acknowledged [2]. With increasing N consumption, more unutilized N is released to the environment through leaching, volatilization, nitrification, and denitrification [5–7], since crop uptake amounts to only about 30% to 50% of the total fertilizers applied to soil [8]. Overuse of chemical fertilizers leads to soil and water contamination issues and greenhouse gas emissions, polluting the environment [9,10]. Reducing chemical fertilizer application without threatening food security to maintain agriculture sustainability is a challenge [13]. In India, being an agriculturedependent nation, the situation warrants immediate attention considering the present level of fertilizer use, the use efficiency of nutrients, and the emissions and leaching that affect the environment [14]
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