Do Fertiliser Subsidies Work for the poor? Evidence and Challenges of Implementing the Fertiliser Support Programme in Zambia: The Case of Kalomo and Senanga Districts

This study examines the nature of the fertiliser subsidy being provided under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) in Zambia. The study focuses on Kalomo and Senanga Districts to assess why despite the programme in place for seven years, food insecurity persists and how the nature of the subsidy has contributed. The study was carried out through primary data collection and the used of secondary data and contrasts the finding in Kalomo and Senanga. The data was obtained by administering five sets of research instruments: the Focus Group Discussions, questionnaire, the semi-structured interview, observation and document analysis. In total 170 (93 males and 77 females) respondents participated in the research. The findings suggest that the nature of the subsidy and the way the programme is organised and implemented has not really benefited the smallholder farmers in terms of increased maize productivity, income from the sales of maize and household food security. While the prices of maize have usually been low in Zambia, the prices of fertiliser have been high. This reduces the profitability of maize production. To most smallholders, maize production is main source of income, yet the fertiliser subsidy in its current form assumes that the smallholders will have the cash to pay for fertiliser subsidy, when income from maize is not always possible. The FSP is also implemented as a uniform policy in a varied setting as depicted in the contrasting differences between Kalomo district and Senanga district. This study concludes that nature of the fertiliser subsidy policy, how it is designed, defined and implemented has implications for impact in terms of increasing maize production, among smallholder farmers.