Fertilizer policy in the developing countries: the case of Brazil

Malavolta, E.; Cruz, V. F. da; Morais, R. S.

doi:10.1590/S0071-12761973000100022

Abstracts

This paper deals initially with the role of mineral fertilizers in increasing agricultural production: the relationship between the two variables is illustrated within global, regional national and local contexts. The pattern and trends in fertilizer usage in Brazil are presented next, namely: increase in consumption in the period 1950/72; regional distribution; consumption as related to crops and cultivated land. It is shown that in less than a quarter or century fertilizer use has increased in the country nearly 12 fold, whereas world consumption was raised 7 fold, thus exceeding estimates based in several criteria. Steps taken to secure the raise in fertilizer consumption above the historical trend are discussed: research experience for outlining fertilization recomendations; the transfer of the knowledge to the farmer by the extension work both official and private; the credit policy and special incentives for the purchase of fertilizer; the national policy for minumum proces of agricultural products; the implantation of a national fertilizer industry. It is considered that the Brazilian experience adapted to similar local conditions in other developing countries, presents a possibility for achieving beneficial results without inflationary reflexes in the economy.

o trabalho discute a importância dos adubos minerais na elevação dos rendimentos agrícolas. É mostrada em seguida a evolução do consumo de adubos minerais no Brasil acima da curva de tendência histórica e das metas fixadas, discutindo-se as possíveis causas do fenômeno. As perspectivas do consumo são discutidas. É sugerido que a experiência brasileira possa ser útil a outros países em desenvolvimento em condições semelhantes, com as adaptações necessárias.

Fertilizer policy in the developing countries the case of Brazil^* * Apresentado mediante convite na reunião anual da American Society of Agronomy, Las Vegas, Nevada 12-16/11/1973 com ajuda da FAPESP, BNDE, CAPES, CNPq e CNEN. NOTE ADDED This paper had already been completed when it became apparent that due to the curtailing in shipment of oil from Middle East Sources the Brazilian effort to increase fertilizer usage could be jeopardized at least in the short run. Bilateral agreements with suppliers of raw materials (either traditional or not) should be negotiated. Local production (expansion and installation of new plants) should be intensified on the other hand, production of electrolytic hydrogen using the energy of the new hydroelectric plants shoud be evaluated.

E. Malavolta^I; V. F. da Cruz^II; R. S. Morais^II

^IDepartamento de Química e CENA, ESALQ

^IIDepartamento de Matemática e Estatística, ESALQ

RESUMO

o trabalho discute a importância dos adubos minerais na elevação dos rendimentos agrícolas.

É mostrada em seguida a evolução do consumo de adubos minerais no Brasil acima da curva de tendência histórica e das metas fixadas, discutindo-se as possíveis causas do fenômeno.

As perspectivas do consumo são discutidas.

É sugerido que a experiência brasileira possa ser útil a outros países em desenvolvimento em condições semelhantes, com as adaptações necessárias.

SUMMARY

This paper deals initially with the role of mineral fertilizers in increasing agricultural production: the relationship between the two variables is illustrated within global, regional national and local contexts. The pattern and trends in fertilizer usage in Brazil are presented next, namely: increase in consumption in the period 1950/72; regional distribution; consumption as related to crops and cultivated land. It is shown that in less than a quarter or century fertilizer use has increased in the country nearly 12 fold, whereas world consumption was raised 7 fold, thus exceeding estimates based in several criteria. Steps taken to secure the raise in fertilizer consumption above the historical trend are discussed: research experience for outlining fertilization recomendations; the transfer of the knowledge to the farmer by the extension work both official and private; the credit policy and special incentives for the purchase of fertilizer; the national policy for minumum proces of agricultural products; the implantation of a national fertilizer industry. It is considered that the Brazilian experience adapted to similar local conditions in other developing countries, presents a possibility for achieving beneficial results without inflationary reflexes in the economy.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text available only in PDF format.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Tanks are due to: ULTRAFERTIL S. A., for financial suppor; ANDA for supplying data used in this work.

LITERATURA CITADA

Trabalho entregue para publicação em 13/12/1973.

ANDA. 1972 Programa trienal de difusão de fertilizantes no Nordeste. Rept. mimeo., São Paulo.
CIBANTOS, J S. 1972 Demanda de fertilizantes no Estado de São Paulo Thesis. Piracicaba.
CUMMINGS, R. W. & R. N. CLEASON. 1971 In Fertilizer technology and use 2nd ed., Scoil. Sci., American, Madison.
DAFERT, F. W., T. BRAGA, BOLLIGER & E. LEHAMAN. 1929 Experiências de adubação e estudos sobre a cultura do cafeeiro. Bol. Soc. Agr. Ind. e Com. Estado de São Paulo, 3dr. ed. São Paulo.
F.A.O. 1969 Provisional indicative world plant for agricultural development. Rome.
HARRE, E. A., W. H. GARMAN & W. C. WHITE. 1971 In Fertilizer technology and use. 2nd. ed., Soil Sci., America Madison.
KNIGHT, P. T. 1971 Brazilian agricultural technology and trade: a study of five commodities. Proeger Publ., Inc., New York.
MALAVOLTA, E., 1964 Adubos e produção de alimentos. Arq. Bras. Nutrição Sep. 15 pp.
MALAVOLTA, E., 1966 Uso de adubos no Brasil. Unpubl. 31 pp.
MALAVOLTA, E., 1968 Política de adubos nos países em desenvolvimento o caso do Brasil. Rev. Agronômica 52 (1-2): 48-54.
MALAVOLTA, E., 1970 Fertilizer policy in the developing countries the case of Brazil. Ohio State University Centennial Seminar on Soi-Plant Relationships. 23 pp.
PARKER, F. W. 1963 In Fertilizer Technology and Usage, ed. by M. H. MC Viekar et al. Soil Sci., America, Madison.
PARKER, F. W. & L. B. NELSON. 1966 In Phosphects of the world food supply a symposium. National Academy of Sciences. Washington.
SEITEC, 1973-a Estudo nacional de fertilizantes vol. I.
SEITC, 1973-b Estudo nacional de fertilizantes vol. II.
T. V. A. 1970 Estimates of fertilizer needs for the developing countries Natl. Fertilizer Development Center. Muscle Shoals. Ala. (Unpubl. data) (Cited by Cummings & Gleason, 1971).
WILLIAMS, M. S. & J. W. COUSTON. 1962 Grop production levels and fertilizer use. F. A O, Rome
VEGA, J. DE LA. 1972 Programa de fertilizantes FAO. Ministério da Agricultura. Rept. mimeo. Rio de Janeiro.

*

Apresentado mediante convite na reunião anual da American Society of Agronomy, Las Vegas, Nevada 12-16/11/1973 com ajuda da FAPESP, BNDE, CAPES, CNPq e CNEN.

NOTE ADDED

This paper had already been completed when it became apparent that due to the curtailing in shipment of oil from Middle East Sources the Brazilian effort to increase fertilizer usage could be jeopardized at least in the short run. Bilateral agreements with suppliers of raw materials (either traditional or not) should be negotiated. Local production (expansion and installation of new plants) should be intensified on the other hand, production of electrolytic hydrogen using the energy of the new hydroelectric plants shoud be evaluated.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
29 May 2012
Date of issue
1973

History

Received
13 Dec 1973

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] ANDA. 1972 Programa trienal de difusão de fertilizantes no Nordeste. Rept. mimeo., São Paulo.

[2] CIBANTOS, J S. 1972 Demanda de fertilizantes no Estado de São Paulo Thesis. Piracicaba.

[3] CUMMINGS, R. W. & R. N. CLEASON. 1971 In Fertilizer technology and use 2nd ed., Scoil. Sci., American, Madison.

[4] DAFERT, F. W., T. BRAGA, BOLLIGER & E. LEHAMAN. 1929 Experiências de adubação e estudos sobre a cultura do cafeeiro. Bol. Soc. Agr. Ind. e Com. Estado de São Paulo, 3dr. ed. São Paulo.

[5] F.A.O. 1969 Provisional indicative world plant for agricultural development. Rome.

[6] HARRE, E. A., W. H. GARMAN & W. C. WHITE. 1971 In Fertilizer technology and use. 2nd. ed., Soil Sci., America Madison.

[7] KNIGHT, P. T. 1971 Brazilian agricultural technology and trade: a study of five commodities. Proeger Publ., Inc., New York.

[8] MALAVOLTA, E., 1964 Adubos e produção de alimentos. Arq. Bras. Nutrição Sep. 15 pp.

[9] MALAVOLTA, E., 1966 Uso de adubos no Brasil. Unpubl. 31 pp.

[10] MALAVOLTA, E., 1968 Política de adubos nos países em desenvolvimento o caso do Brasil. Rev. Agronômica 52 (1-2): 48-54.

[11] MALAVOLTA, E., 1970 Fertilizer policy in the developing countries the case of Brazil. Ohio State University Centennial Seminar on Soi-Plant Relationships. 23 pp.

[12] PARKER, F. W. 1963 In Fertilizer Technology and Usage, ed. by M. H. MC Viekar et al. Soil Sci., America, Madison.

[13] PARKER, F. W. & L. B. NELSON. 1966 In Phosphects of the world food supply a symposium. National Academy of Sciences. Washington.

[14] SEITEC, 1973-a Estudo nacional de fertilizantes vol. I.

[15] SEITC, 1973-b Estudo nacional de fertilizantes vol. II.

[16] T. V. A. 1970 Estimates of fertilizer needs for the developing countries Natl. Fertilizer Development Center. Muscle Shoals. Ala. (Unpubl. data) (Cited by Cummings & Gleason, 1971).

[17] WILLIAMS, M. S. & J. W. COUSTON. 1962 Grop production levels and fertilizer use. F. A O, Rome

[18] VEGA, J. DE LA. 1972 Programa de fertilizantes FAO. Ministério da Agricultura. Rept. mimeo. Rio de Janeiro.