FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE GROWTH ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT (GES) SCHEME IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF THE GROWTH ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT (GES) SCHEME IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study examined farmers’ perception of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme in Kogi State, Nigeria, with emphasis on its effectiveness in improving access to agricultural inputs, enhancing productivity, and promoting rural agricultural development. The study was motivated by the need to evaluate government-driven agricultural intervention programmes and their implications for smallholder farmers in the context of food security, agricultural transformation, and digital inclusion. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 120 registered participants of the GES scheme across selected communities in six Local Government Areas of Kogi State. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive statistics, mean scores, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Findings revealed that most participants possessed a positive perception of the GES scheme, particularly regarding transparency in fertilizer distribution, access to subsidized farm inputs, and improved communication through the e-wallet platform. The study further showed that extension agents remained the major source of agricultural information among respondents, while farmers demonstrated a relatively high level of awareness and understanding of the scheme’s operational procedures. Despite these gains, several implementation challenges were identified, including delayed distribution of farm inputs, inadequate redemption centers, poor rural telecommunication infrastructure, low digital literacy among farmers, and financial difficulties associated with accessing mobile devices required for participation in the scheme.

The study concluded that the GES scheme contributed significantly to improving farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and strengthening smallholder participation in government agricultural programmes. However, institutional and infrastructural deficiencies limited the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention. The study recommended timely distribution of inputs, expansion of rural ICT infrastructure, increased sensitization campaigns, establishment of additional redemption centers, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve programme delivery. The findings provide useful insights for policymakers, agricultural development agencies, and researchers interested in agricultural intervention programmes and rural development in Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Agriculture remains one of the most strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy due to its contribution to food production, employment generation, poverty reduction, and rural livelihood enhancement. Before the discovery of crude oil, agriculture served as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings and national development through commodities such as cocoa, palm produce, cotton, and groundnut (National Bureau of Statistics [NBS], 2022). Although the discovery of petroleum shifted national attention away from agriculture, the sector still contributes substantially to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and remains the dominant occupation in rural communities.

In Nigeria, agricultural production is largely undertaken by smallholder farmers who operate under difficult conditions characterized by inadequate access to improved seeds, fertilizers, mechanization, extension services, rural infrastructure, and agricultural credit facilities (FMARD, 2021). These constraints have contributed to low productivity, food insecurity, and persistent rural poverty. Consequently, successive governments have introduced several agricultural intervention programmes aimed at revitalizing the sector and improving the welfare of farmers.

One of such interventions is the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme introduced in 2012 under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The scheme was designed to reform the agricultural input distribution system by eliminating corruption, inefficiency, and diversion associated with the traditional fertilizer distribution process (Adesina, 2013). The GES scheme introduced an electronic wallet (e-wallet) platform through which registered farmers received subsidized agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and improved seeds directly via mobile phone technology.

The adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agricultural input distribution represented a significant policy innovation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Through the e-wallet system, farmers were expected to receive text messages containing electronic vouchers that enabled them to redeem subsidized inputs from accredited agro-dealers. This approach aimed to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency while strengthening private sector participation in agricultural input supply chains (FMARD, 2014).

The GES scheme targeted millions of smallholder farmers across Nigeria with the broader objectives of increasing agricultural productivity, improving household income, promoting food security, and reducing dependence on food imports. The programme also sought to reposition government as a facilitator rather than a direct distributor of agricultural inputs. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the scheme significantly increased farmers’ access to fertilizers and improved seed varieties during its implementation phase (FMARD, 2015).

Despite the innovative nature of the scheme, concerns have continued to emerge regarding its effectiveness, sustainability, and accessibility, especially among rural farmers with limited technological literacy and poor access to mobile communication infrastructure. Several studies have reported implementation challenges such as delayed input delivery, network failures, inadequate registration processes, insufficient redemption centers, and exclusion of vulnerable rural farmers who lacked mobile phones or digital skills (Liverpool-Tasie & Takeshima, 2013).

In Kogi State, where agriculture constitutes a major source of livelihood for rural households, the effectiveness of the GES scheme remains a subject of considerable academic and policy interest. Farmers’ perception of agricultural intervention programmes plays a critical role in determining participation, acceptance, and sustainability of such programmes. Understanding how farmers perceive the operational efficiency, benefits, and limitations of the GES scheme is therefore essential for improving future agricultural policies and interventions.

Furthermore, recent discussions on agricultural modernization emphasize the importance of digital agriculture, inclusive agricultural financing, rural innovation systems, and farmer-centered policy implementation. Consequently, assessing farmers’ perception of the GES scheme provides a contemporary perspective on how digital agricultural interventions can contribute to sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Over the years, the Nigerian government has implemented several agricultural development programmes aimed at increasing food production and improving the welfare of rural farmers. However, many of these programmes have failed to achieve their intended objectives due to corruption, poor implementation strategies, inadequate monitoring, weak institutional frameworks, and lack of beneficiary participation (Adebayo, 2018).

The introduction of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme was widely viewed as a strategic reform intended to address persistent challenges associated with fertilizer procurement and distribution in Nigeria. By leveraging mobile technology and electronic voucher systems, the scheme aimed to ensure that subsidized farm inputs reached genuine farmers directly without interference from middlemen or political actors.

Despite these objectives, evidence from various states indicates that the implementation of the scheme encountered numerous operational difficulties. Many rural farmers reportedly experienced delays in receiving farm inputs, inadequate information dissemination, technical challenges related to mobile phone usage, poor network connectivity, and limited access to redemption centers. In some cases, genuine farmers were excluded from participation due to errors in registration and verification processes.

In Kogi State, where farming activities are predominantly carried out by smallholder farmers in rural communities, these challenges may have affected the effectiveness of the scheme and influenced farmers’ perception of the programme. Farmers’ perception is important because it shapes their level of participation, trust, and willingness to engage in future agricultural interventions. Negative perception may undermine policy implementation, while positive perception can strengthen programme sustainability and adoption.

Furthermore, although several studies have focused on the implementation of agricultural intervention programmes in Nigeria, limited empirical attention has been given to farmers’ perception of the GES scheme in Kogi State, particularly regarding awareness, satisfaction, effectiveness, implementation constraints, and improvement strategies.

It is against this background that this study seeks to examine farmers’ perception of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme in Kogi State, Nigeria, with a view to providing evidence-based recommendations for improving agricultural intervention programmes in the country.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to examine farmers’ perception of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme in Kogi State, Nigeria.

The specific objectives are to:

examine farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of the GES scheme in Kogi State;

determine the level of farmers’ knowledge regarding the activities and operations of the GES scheme;

identify the major sources of information available to farmers concerning the GES scheme;

assess farmers’ level of satisfaction with the implementation process of the scheme;

identify the major constraints affecting the effective implementation of the GES scheme; and

suggest possible strategies for improving the implementation and sustainability of the scheme.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

The study was guided by the following null hypothesis:

H?: Socio-economic and institutional characteristics of farmers have no significant influence on their level of knowledge and perception of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme in Kogi State.

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be valuable to policymakers, agricultural development agencies, extension organizations, researchers, and farmers. Specifically, the study will provide empirical evidence on the strengths and weaknesses of the GES scheme and offer practical recommendations for improving agricultural intervention programmes in Nigeria.

The study will assist the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and state agricultural agencies in understanding farmers’ experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding digital input distribution systems. Such understanding will facilitate evidence-based policy formulation and enhance the effectiveness of future agricultural programmes.

The findings will also benefit extension agents and development practitioners by identifying communication gaps, implementation challenges, and institutional barriers affecting programme delivery. This may contribute to the design of more inclusive and farmer-friendly agricultural interventions.

For researchers and academics, the study will contribute to existing literature on agricultural policy implementation, rural development, digital agriculture, and farmers’ participation in government intervention programmes. It will also serve as a reference material for future studies in related fields.

Finally, the study will benefit farmers by drawing attention to their challenges and advocating for improved access to subsidized inputs, rural infrastructure, agricultural information, and technological support systems necessary for sustainable agricultural production.

References

Adesina, A. (2013). Agricultural Transformation Agenda: Repositioning agriculture to drive Nigeria’s economy. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja.

Adebayo, O. O. (2018). Assessment of agricultural intervention programmes and rural development in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 10(4), 56–64.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). (2014). Growth Enhancement Support Scheme implementation report. Abuja, Nigeria.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). (2015). Agricultural Transformation Agenda Progress Report. Abuja, Nigeria.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). (2021). National agricultural policy framework. Abuja, Nigeria.

Liverpool-Tasie, L. S. O., & Takeshima, H. (2013). Input subsidy programs and agricultural productivity in Nigeria. International Food Policy Research Institute Discussion Paper, 1234, 1–28.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2022). Nigeria Gross Domestic Product Report. Abuja, Nigeria.