Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Use in Rural Nigeria

African Development Review,31(3), pp. 348-363 (2019).

25 Pages Posted: 12 Sep 2019 Last revised: 16 Oct 2019

See all articles by Joseph I. Uduji

Joseph I. Uduji

University of Nigeria Enugu Campus

Elda N. Okolo-Obasi

University of Nigeria - Institute of Development Studies; Development Strategy Centre Nigeria

Simplice Asongu

African Governance and Development Institute

Date Written: September 5, 2019

Abstract

Fertilizer use in Nigeria is estimated at 13 kg/ha, which is far below the 200 kg/ha recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The objective of this investigation was to identify the determinant factors of farmers’ participation in the Nigeria’s growth enhancement support scheme (GESS). In addition, we determined the impact of the GESS on fertilizer use in rural areas. One thousand, two hundred rural farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results from the use of recursive bivariate probit model indicated that GESS significantly impacted on the access and usage of fertilizer among the rural farmers; and that contact with extension agents, ownership of mobile phones, power for charging phone batteries, value output, mobile network coverage, ability to read and write were positive determinants of rural farmers participation in the GESS; whereas increased distance to registration and collection centers, and cultural constraints to married women reduced farmers’ tendency to participate in the GESS. The findings suggest that farmers’ participation in the GESS is a critical factor for raising fertilizer use in Nigeria. This implies that food security in sub-Saharan Africa can be achieved by increasing the participation of rural farmers in the growth enhancement support scheme.

Keywords: Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, Fertilizer Use, Rural Farmers, Recursive Bivariate Probit Model, Nigeria

JEL Classification: O13, Q1, N27

Suggested Citation

Uduji, Joseph I. and Okolo-Obasi, Elda N. and Okolo-Obasi, Elda N. and Asongu, Simplice, Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) and Farmers’ Fertilizer Use in Rural Nigeria (September 5, 2019). African Development Review,31(3), pp. 348-363 (2019)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3448284 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3448284

Joseph I. Uduji

University of Nigeria Enugu Campus ( email )

Department of Accountancy
Box 15540, Enugu
Enugu, NC Enugu 234
Nigeria

Elda N. Okolo-Obasi

University of Nigeria - Institute of Development Studies ( email )

Institute for Development Studies
University of Nigeria
Enugu, 234
Nigeria

Development Strategy Centre Nigeria ( email )

84Nza Street Independence Layout Enugu
Enugu, 400001
Nigeria
08063631111 (Phone)
400001 (Fax)

Simplice Asongu (Contact Author)

African Governance and Development Institute ( email )

P.O. Box 8413
Yaoundé, 8413
Cameroon

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
47
Abstract Views
538
PlumX Metrics