C’River: Poor Network Hampers e-Wallet Fertilizer Distribution

The Coordinator of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in
Cross River State, Mrs Ada Edu, says that poor network is affecting e-Wallet
system of fertiliser distribution in the state.

Edu told our correspondent in Calabar that farmers in most
parts of the state were unable to receive text messages due to poor network
from telecom providers.

She also said that they were now using voucher cards to
ensure that farmers get their packages.

“The problem we have in Cross River with e-wallet system is
that network is very poor. Some of the farmers do not receive text messages on
their phones.

“But we have adopted the system of using voucher cards so
that in spite of the constraint in text messages, farmers can still get their
packages.

“With voucher cards those that their names are on the
register and could not receive text messages but can produce any form of
identification are given inputs,’’ she said.

She, however, said that some of the means of identification
included driving licence or voters’ registration card.

The coordinator further said that no fewer than 5,000
farmers had so far received their package, adding that Agro dealers had also
benefited the redemption centres across the state.

Edu explained that there were 37 redemption centres in the
18 Local Government Areas of the state with enough fertilisers.

According to her, the state received 25 trucks of fertiliser
from the distribution companies, adding that there were fertilisers in the 18
Local Government Areas.

Edu said that the farmers were excited over the present
arrangement that eliminated the middleman.

“Farmers are very excited when they receive text messages
telling them to come to so a place to collect their packages.

“A Bag of fertiliser that is sold for N6, 500 in the open
Market are given to them at the rate of N3, 000.’’

She further said that government also provides free crops
and seedlings, including maize, cocoa, rice and 15 bundles of cassava cutting
to each farmer.

She advised the farmers, who had not received their packages
to do so immediately so that they could begin early preparations for the 2013
farming season.

The coordinator, however, explained that the GES scheme was
not meant for farmers only and urged more people in the state to go into
farming to guarantee food sufficiency.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government’s
Agricultural Transformation Agenda abolished government direct sale of
fertiliser to farmers and introduced e-wallet system through fertiliser
distribution companies.