Perspectives May 2017 and Annual Review | Page 13

PUBLICATIONS New Manual Guides Implementation of Urea Deep PLACEMENT PROGRAMS Transplanted Rice, provides the scientific basis for UDP technology and outlines the steps necessary for the successful introduction and commercialization of UDP into developing agriculture systems. The process is complex – both demand creation and supply system development must occur simultaneously. Approaching UDP as a new fertilizer product on the market, the manual guides users through each phase of UDP project planning and implementation. The manual is intended for IFDC project implementers and partners who aim to strengthen food security, improve rural income, and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint. The publication is a valuable tool in expanding fertilizer nutrient management technologies that ultimately strengthen agriculture systems and the environment. Designed for resource-poor farmers cultivating lowland rice, urea deep placement (UDP) is a nutrient management technology that accomplishes what agriculture must do in a changing climate: increase yields and profitability and reduce pollution. The deep point placement of urea briquettes delivers more nitrogen to the plant and reduces fertilizer use, water contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, farmers experience about 15-20% higher yields. More than 2 million farmers and retailers in Bangladesh are experiencing increased production and income using the technology, and results are being replicated in several countries in sub- Saharan Africa. IFDC has validated UDP under various research and field environments, including in greenhouse and research trials and under farmer field conditions. The manual, Rapid Introduction and Market Development for Urea Deep Placement Technology for Lowland The guide, along with instructional videos on UDP application and urea briquette manufacture, is available at http://bit.ly/udpmanual. Book on Fertilizer Subsidies Aims to Assist Policymakers Across the Globe While fertilizer subsidies have become increasingly common across the world to stimulate supply and use of fertilizers, it remains unknown whether or not these policies are appropriate for the challenge of feeding an ever-growing population – 10 billion people by 2050. In many developed economies, fertilizer subsidies have been replaced by various fertilizer support programs. Will fertilizer subsidies remain effective as we try to eradicate global hunger and poverty while preserving the environment? Fertilizer Subsidies — Which Way Forward is an analysis of fertilizer subsidies in five Asian countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan) and four sub-Saharan countries (Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania) conducted by the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI) and IFDC. The analysis is an attempt to understand the impact of fertilizer subsidies on the countries’ fiscal budgets, on productivity and nutrient management, and on the efficiency of fertilizer production, distribution, and consumption. The analysis is intended to help policymakers better understand the impact of fertilizer subsidies by documenting their diversity and effectiveness across a variety of economies and geographical regions. In each section, the global structure of the fertilizer sector is presented along with country reviews and developments of fertilizer subsidy programs in the selected countries with an emphasis on years from 2000 to 2013. The country- specific sections also include lessons learned and suggestions on how to move forward. The publication is available at http://bit.ly/IFDCpubs. 12