The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID-UKAID) has endorsed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

The endorsement is contained in the report of a study, the subject of a pilot publication titled “FCT Farmers’ Report Card”.

The study was conducted by the Federal Public Administration Reform Programme Nigeria (FEPAR), a programme being implemented by a consortium led by Atos Consulting UK and sponsored by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID-UKAID).

The objective of the pilot study carried out between 16 December 2013 and 20 January 2014 was to identify gaps and issues in service delivery experienced by farmers registered under the scheme began in 2012/2013.

The respondents in the study were farmers registered under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 98% of who gave overwhelming support for the scheme.

A total of 533 farmers were surveyed, out of which 320 were male and 213 female. 62 farmers not registered under GES (32 women and 30 men) were also surveyed. To gain further insight into the GES experience and related issues, the study equally held discussions with officials of the Department of Fertiliser, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), State office of the Ministry in Gwagwalada, the International Fertiliser Development Centre IFDC) Cellulant, the consultant that developed the electronic platform used by farmers to access subsidised inputs through cell phones (e-wallet), and the Fertiliser Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

Among the key findings of the study include 98% of farmers showing pleasure with the scheme; 94% of farmers found it easy to access inputs, particularly when compared to pre-GES period and 77% of the farmers surveyed stating that inputs received under GES scheme improved their crop yields.

Other findings show that 56% of the farmers found it difficult to make complaints to FMARD on poor services, just as some farmers from the focus group discussions complained that the redemption process began late and inputs did not arrive in time for the planting season.

Some farmers also complained that it took a long time to collect inputs at some of the redemption centres, in some cases between three days with 70% of the farmers saying that they were not given any information on how long they had to wait in the centres before collecting their inputs.