GES: Why distribution of inputs suffered set back in Niger

How can you assess this year’s performance of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in Niger State?Really, from the onset, most of us had this fear that the rains will not last but luckily enough what we got this year was okay for the cropping season. The only thing we had a delay in was the […]

How can you assess this year’s performance of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in Niger State?
Really, from the onset, most of us had this fear that the rains will not last but luckily enough what we got this year was okay for the cropping season. The only thing we had a delay in was the distribution of agro-inputs under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) because the inputs were supposed to be supplied to farmers by March and April but redemption of the inputs only came in June when the season had advanced.
The problem with this year’s GES agro-inputs distribution has to do with the arrangement. In the previous years the federal and state governments were in charge of the activities but this time around, the agro-dealers were asked to procure the inputs, take them to redemption centres as well as redeem same to the farmers.
Also, the dealers only get payment based on what they redeemed unlike in the previous arrangement. So, for the fact that it is a new arrangement and started a bit late led to the problems we experienced.
What is the way forward then?
Government should not have much hand in such transactions; it should only serve as facilitator as well as regulator. It should facilitate by creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest. However, the government is at present doing well by subsidising agro-inputs. But a time will come when farmers will want the input support but might prefer the output support whereby a ready-made market will be available under the Guaranteed Minimum Price by having off-takers ready. If government can facilitate that, it is better for farmers. At this stage the farmers are poor but as things keep improving as we are having the belief things will get better in no distant future, the issue of inputs support will be a thing of the past. Once the ready-made market is there and farmers are guaranteed the minimum price they will be able to source for their inputs.
How aware are the farmers of the Guaranteed Minimum Price?
The issue of Guaranteed Minimum Price is a complex matter because it doesn’t apply to all crops. The issue is if you are to peg a price, a ready-made market should be available as well as the produce. When there is a glut that is essentially when such intervention is critical as government buys the excess and sells to the public when demand for such produce improves. But the biggest problem of farmers is the middlemen. Most of our farmers are peasant farmers who, from the cultivation stage will start to run out of money and therefore start borrowing. Sometimes they use the loan to fend for their families and when the loan is not forthcoming they go for labour in other people’s farms at the expense of theirs. Based on this scenario, farmers sell their produce at harvest at any price.
So the issue of Guaranteed Minimum Price needs a lot of orientation among the farmers; there is the need for sensitisation as people need to be educated properly to know what their rights are and to know what is in the open market for them to participate fully and take advantage of.
Two things have to be considered, from when the farmers cultivates the land and procures the seeds. What I think the government should do is to help the farmers in the value chain. This marketing is another thing entirely because it has reached international standard, may be some of the products may be exported. However, this is a process that we are just starting. It is something that has been in practice in the developed countries and that is why their farmers are richer whereas ironically in our country farmers are the poorest, though we have few rich ones.