FARMERS who participated in the Growth Enhancement Support scheme of the Federal Government have expressed satisfaction at the innovative ways they received fertilizers and other agricultural inputs provided by the scheme.Investigation by our correspondent showed that many of the farmers are particularly impressed with the ease at which government subsidy has been incorporated into the GES programme.Aaron Ikemefule, a cassava and yam farmer in Umuahia North, Abia State expressed great satisfaction at how he got fertilizers during the inauguration of the scheme in Abia State without having to go through a long process as was the case in the past.'I am extremely happy with this scheme. During the launch of the programme, I received fertilizers very easily, once I got the electronic signal on my phone. This has never happened before, and I just want it to continue,' he said.Another farmer, Ojo Badusi, who cultivates maize in Akure, Ondo State noted that the GES scheme is a welcome development as it has made access to farm inputs very easy for him.A similar view was expressed by Lateef Odewale, a Lagos-based fish farmer and Senimu Adamu Torodi, a maize farmer in Toro Local Government, Bauchi State.Innocent Chiko-Igwe, a farmer in Umuahia South, Abia State, said that the scheme represented a departure from the past. He appreciated it and asked that it be sustained.Meanwhile, the GES scheme has received major boost as leading fertilizer manufacturer, Notore, has entered into partnership with the GES operators to provide improved access to fertilizers.According Mr. Bolaji Akinboro, Chief of Party, Nigeria Team GES (Cellulant), the development is a welcome one, adding that partnership with Notore will accelerate redemption rates.He said, 'We are working on a situation whereby there will be a total elimination of bottle-necks in the process of redemption. As a leading producer of fertilizer, Notore's involvement in the GES programme is a huge plus that we expect will transform the way beneficiaries of the scheme will get access to fertilizer.'He said that the design of the scheme is a highly visionary move by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akin Adesina, adding that the government is working towards ensuring that there is a complete break from past experiences where people who are the targets of subsidised fertilizers did not really have them.'We have already started what we believe is a revolution in the Nigerian agricultural sector, especially in the aspects of making fertilizer available to farmers and provision of better seedlings for improved yield,' he said.Meanwhile, farmers who have participated in the scheme have said that there is need for better relationship with agro-dealers who often do not have all needed information on the scheme, and cannot fully meet their requests for information. They also called for greater access to funds to expand their businesses.
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