Lesser farmers register for dry season maize as stakeholders demand GES review

The registration of maize farmers for the dry season cultivation for 2014 has been described very low against the expected numbers the Federal government has prepared to support with three bags of fertilizer with micro nutrient and 20kg bag of improved seed just as stakeholders have demanded for the immediate review of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) saying some of the challenges confronting the programme must be tackled for the purpose of beneficiaries against year 2015. 

These two observations were among the issues raised during the last meeting of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) just as they commend the ingenuity of the Minister to farmers’ development especially with introduction of Ges pointing that the purpose might be defeated if some of the shortcomings in the implementation are not addressed with immediate effect.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through its maize desk officer, Mr. Unamma Chyka Victor lamented on the turnout of farmers for the Mr. President dry season maize cultivation support provision saying the ministry was only able to register about 39,066 farmers as against the expected figure of 400,000 adding only twenty five states with less than 2000 farmers were able to register while Oyo state could not submit any name despite all his efforts to get across to all the states’ chairmen.

While Mr. Unamma Victor advised MAAN to reject any bad seeds whenever they are brought to them however pointed that dry season maize planting is scheduled to commence by December as government would give three bags of fertilizer with micro nutrient and 20Kg improved seeds to farmers for the purpose of increased yield for market purposes.

He added maize is now a profitable crop as the demand for it is increasing day by day stating the country is expected to supply the ECOWAS about two silos full capacity of maize’ produce which he believed the full participation of farmers would have ensured favourably.

The challenges identified by MAAN and other stakeholders from Seed Companies Association of Nigeria included payment delay to agro inputs companies as commercial banks’ interest is said to be taking larger part of the payment with poor certified seeds occasioned by mishandling after certification which may have occurred as result of long and far distance given to agro dealers for delivery as against the initial agreement of supplying to the closer ecological zones.

Although the stakeholders commended the sincerity of Dr. Adesina but observed that the implementation process of the Ges must be immediately reviewed for the benefit of farmers who are given adulterated seed and delay in payment of the seed companies.

Report from  Ogun and Delta revealed the issue of bad seed supplied to the two states as the minister has ordered for the immediate deletion of the affected companies from the GES programme with effort on going to take them for prosecution just as alteration of original GES  list  was reported by Delta state MAAN representative. Deleted companies according to findings are Spring Field Agro, Vitae and Okon global.

The President of the Seed Companies Association of Nigeria Mr. Richard Olufare faulted the seed policy of the country saying the best the agricultural transformation agenda would have done is to ensure awareness adoption of improved seeds thereby allowing choice of certified seeds’ patronage to farmers stressing that no seed companies have been able to break even since the inception of GES. 

Mr Richard Olufare added that the increasing number of certified seed producers cannot be an antidote for adulteration but rather suggested having an efficient and very functional national seed policy for effective implementation of GES stressed delay in payment has hindered the business progress of many of its members as no seed company has been able to break even in term of business since the inception of the programme.

He added that “ATA was to increase the low adoption rate of improved seeds by farmers which supposes to end by 2015 and left farmers to make choice of their seeds through company of their choice. The seeds policy is not right, the increase to 800 companies is rubbish, and the process must be regulated and reviewed for national food security”

In his comment, the National President of MAAN, Pastor Tunji Adenola the convener of the meeting advised his members to be more proactive to productivity while he also corroborated Mr. Olufare’s opinion on the need for prompt payment after service delivery of inputs providers so as to avoid commercial banks embarrassment thereby calling for the immediate review of the GES for more effectiveness to the beneficiaries as the implementation is becoming very much faulty which the minster might not know.

Pastor Adenola pointed that the long distance journey embark upon by the agro dealers when a seed must have been given in a certified condition may have contributed to the challenges of bad seeds in the GES programme adding the long distance delivery of certified seeds to different ecologies has deviated from the initial agreement just as he pointed that directive to delivery destinations from Abuja is not always timely as seeds may have stayed longer in an unconducive environment. 

It will be recalled last year at the National Assembly hearing that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina said that “GES will improve marketing of subsidized inputs to farmers, empower smallholders’ farmers by giving them a choice in the purchase of input through agro dealers of their choice without relying on government. It improves transparency and accountability in the use of government subsidy. It is easier to track and support the development of the private sector market for seeds and fertilizer in the country”