The Impact of Fertilizer Subsidy on Paddy Cultivation in Sri Lanka

The Government of Sri Lanka has been subsidizing fertilizer for more than four decades. This study attempts to analyse the impact of fertilizer subsidies with reference to paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka. The issue is analysed by employing three separate demand functions for major fertilizers by using simple regression model. Regression results indicate that changes in the prices of fertilizer and paddy do not have a significant effect on fertilizer usage, which points to the fact that the fertilizer subsidy is not a key determinant of the use of fertilizer in paddy cultivation. The study also found that there is a relatively higher correlation between fertilizer usage and paddy price than between fertilizer usage and fertilizer price. These findings suggest that the fertilizer subsidy could be withdrawn gradually over time. In its place, appropriate infrastructure and institutional facilities that are required to increase productivity in paddy cultivation and an effective mechanism for marketing the output that would result in favourable prices for paddy may be introduced for a more effective outcome. (JEL N551, Q19)  

DOI: 10.4038/ss.v36i1.1231

Staff Studies Volume 36 Numbers 1& 2 2006 p.73-101