It's a privilege to participate in this community contest for the very first time, I hope I'm warmly welcome as I love agriculture and everything pertaining it.

As a peasant farmer who also take part in planting and harvesting in our little farm, am so excited to share my knowledge in this community. I appreciate @mostofajaman for organizing this contest. Let's dive in.

Which one do you use between chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer?

This is a question every farm needs to answer personal because it something every farmer uses in one way or the other to help their plants grow faster.

At this stage I can say I uses the organic fertilizer because we as the family deal on a peasant farming not a large farm.

It's for the family uses only so we don't afford to buy chemical fertilizer for our crops, rather we get some organic fertilizer from the livestock. With the organic fertilizer, our crops always grow more stronger and healthier although it takes longer time than using chemical fertilizer.

Assess the status of your country's use of chemical fertilizers.

Here in my country Nigeria, we the citizens of the country view it in different direction.

The Nigerian farmers view chemical fertilizer as an expensive materials which is meant for the commercial farmers while the organic fertilizer is for the peasant farmers because it's difficult for a single farmer trying to feed his family with his little piece of farm to go and purchase an high expensive chemical fertilizer for his farm.

So it is very rare for the peasant farmers to purchase chemical fertilizer, while the commercial farmers take it so serious to get chemical fertilizer to make their crops grow fast.

Still yet the demand for chemical fertilizer is high here in Nigeria despite the fact that peasant farmers are very few who make use of it.

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers.

In this field there are also advantages and disadvantages that follows in the applications of this materials in the farm (organic and chemical fertilizer) here I'm going to explain in details how it affects in a good and bad way;

Organic Fertilizer

Advantages

1. Environmentally friendly: Organic fertilizers are biodegradable and non-toxic, reducing soil pollution and environmental harm.
2. Soil health improvement: Organic fertilizers add organic matter, improving soil structure, fertility, and overall health.
3. Slow release of nutrients: Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly, providing a steady supply to plants and reducing the risk of over-fertilization.
4. Cost-effective: Organic fertilizers can be made from locally available materials, reducing costs and reliance on external inputs.
5. Promotes biodiversity: Organic fertilizers support beneficial microorganisms, promoting soil biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Disadvantages

1. Slow acting: Organic fertilizers take time to break down and release nutrients, which can delay plant growth.
2. Variable nutrient content: Organic fertilizers can have varying levels of nutrients, making it challenging to determine the exact amount to apply.
3. Bulkier and heavier: Organic fertilizers are often bulkier and heavier than chemical fertilizers, making them more difficult to transport and store.
4. May not provide immediate results: Organic fertilizers may not provide immediate results, requiring patience and long-term commitment.

Chemical Fertilizers

Advantages

1. Quick acting: Chemical fertilizers provide immediate nutrients to plants, promoting rapid growth and development.
2. High nutrient content: Chemical fertilizers have a consistent and high nutrient content, making it easier to determine the exact amount to apply.
3. Convenient and easy to apply: Chemical fertilizers are often in a concentrated form, making them easier to transport, store, and apply.
4. Provides immediate results: Chemical fertilizers can provide immediate results, making them appealing to farmers who need quick solutions.

Disadvantages

1. Environmental pollution: Chemical fertilizers can pollute soil, air, and water, harming ecosystems and human health.
2. Soil degradation: Chemical fertilizers can degrade soil health, reducing its fertility and structure over time.
3. Dependence on external inputs: Chemical fertilizers require continuous external inputs, making farmers reliant on these products.
4. Can harm beneficial microorganisms: Chemical fertilizers can harm beneficial microorganisms in the soil, disrupting ecosystem services and soil health.

Currently, there is a lot of use of chemical fertilizers. How can we reduce this and use organic fertilizers?

In this aspect the green chemistry is now involved, which will include the sustainability that's the duration.

I should considered products of more organic fertilizer so that the chemical fertilizer will be lesser and also create awareness so that people can as well deviate from using the chemical fertilizer.

Also creating of facilities that will help carry the heavy organic fertilizer for the farmers, as it's part of the disadvantages of using organic fertilizer.

Production of organic fertilizer should also be recognized by implementing facilities and amenities for more products.

Thank you so much for reading to the end I hope it's helpful 😊.

I will like to invite @samuelnkenta @bessie2023 and @jozzie90