Shapiro, B. I.Sanders, J. H.2016-04-192016-04-191998Livestock Policy Analysis Brief No. 9 (September 1998)http://hdl.handle.net/10919/66011Metadata only recordAn important debate is currently under way among researchers and policy makers about the relative merits of using organic versus inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Environmentalists argue that use of inorganic fertilizer contributes to natural resource degradation and recommend use of organic fertilizers as a means of promoting sustainable agriculture. Opponents of this view maintain that a more rapid introduction of inorganic fertilizers is required in sub-Saharan Africa where current levels of use are extremely low, even when compared with other developing countries.text/plainen-USSemiarid zonesGovernment policyAgricultureSoil fertilitySustainable agricultureOrganic farmingGovernmentFertilizationProfitabilityOrganicInorganicDebateSubstitutesEcosystemAbstract