期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2010
卷号：12
期号：5
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：This paper highlights the factors determining the decision to use inorganic fertilizer over a five year period in a rural
community in Malawi, given changing macro-level fertilizer subsidy programs and the micro-level work of agricultural
research interventions that were driven by innovation system concepts. The results indicate that different factors that
influence households’ ability and willingness to purchase inorganic fertilizers were found to positively and significantly
influence the decision to use inorganic fertilizer in varying degrees in different cropping seasons. Participation in innovative
agricultural research interventions was however, found to negatively affect fertilizer use as the system of beneficiary
identification was subjective and dependent upon criteria set by local traditional leaders and extension agents. The paper
concludes that the current system of fertilizer coupon distribution in Malawi leads to discrimination against households that
are viewed as better off. The results imply that there is the need to mainstream agricultural innovation systems concepts in all
public agricultural research and extension programs, so that beneficiaries are not considered better off and hence excluded
from social welfare programs to which they are entitled.
