Agriculture-Fertilizer Interface in Asia: Issues in Growth and Sustainability - Hardcover
The foundation for this book was laid when the U.S. Geological Survey requested the East-West Center to project long-term fertilizer needs in Asia-Pacific countries. Although fertilizer demand projects were available from other agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey requested that an entirely new approach be developed - both to provide an independent check on existing demand projections, and also to serve as a basis for assessing the desirability of a major investment by a foreign nation in building a fertilizer plant, meant primarily for exports.
Not being able to use time-tested methodologies - such as trend analysis, time-series data, and econometric modeling - for fertilizer demand projection proved to be no less challenging than the effort to develop an alternative approach. However, some new concepts emerged (such as agricultural production on residual soil fertility and national crop response to fertilizer use). Some new questions have been raised, such as, can we continue to rely on cereals to help/meet future food needs in several developing countries? Some outlandish hypotheses have been developed, such as, the possibility of fertilizer smuggling across international boundaries.
These studies should be considered as working hypotheses only at this stage rather than definitive ideas. Certainly, much refinement is needed - both in fine turning the approach and in the acquisition of better agricultural statistics. However, readers should be motivate to try out methodology with detailed agricultural statistics for any country. They should use this approach and extrapolate backwards fertilizer consumption in the country over the past 10-20 years. Using the methodology, if the past can be "predicted" with any degree of accuracy, it is hoped that readers would be willing to give the future a chance also.
Not being able to use time-tested methodologies - such as trend analysis, time-series data, and econometric modeling - for fertilizer demand projection proved to be no less challenging than the effort to develop an alternative approach. However, some new concepts emerged (such as agricultural production on residual soil fertility and national crop response to fertilizer use). Some new questions have been raised, such as, can we continue to rely on cereals to help/meet future food needs in several developing countries? Some outlandish hypotheses have been developed, such as, the possibility of fertilizer smuggling across international boundaries.
These studies should be considered as working hypotheses only at this stage rather than definitive ideas. Certainly, much refinement is needed - both in fine turning the approach and in the acquisition of better agricultural statistics. However, readers should be motivate to try out methodology with detailed agricultural statistics for any country. They should use this approach and extrapolate backwards fertilizer consumption in the country over the past 10-20 years. Using the methodology, if the past can be "predicted" with any degree of accuracy, it is hoped that readers would be willing to give the future a chance also.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Saleem Ahmed is serving as a Senior Fellow at East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherScience Pub Inc
- Publication date1995
- ISBN 10 1886106266
- ISBN 13 9781886106260
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages158
(No Available Copies)
Search Books: Create a WantIf you know the book but cannot find it on AbeBooks, we can automatically search for it on your behalf as new inventory is added. If it is added to AbeBooks by one of our member booksellers, we will notify you!
Create a Want