Business
Association Backs FG’s GES Initiative
The Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), has expressed its support for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme under the Cocoa Transformation Agenda (CocTA) of the Federal Government.
Our correspondent reports that farmers under the scheme are allowed to buy their inputs directly from designated input providers on the basis of their needs.
The association’s president, Mr Sayina Riman, expressed the association’s position on the new system while addressing cocoa farmers who paid him a visit in Akure.
Riman said the present challenges being experienced by cocoa farmers were inevitable since the scheme was new.
“The system introduced by CocTA is a clear departure from the old system which allowed for leakages, “ he added.
The association’s president expressed regrets that inspite of the huge amount of money spent on cocoa input procurement since 2003, there was no commensurate impact in output or farmers’ welfare.
According to him, the new system is unique because it places the farmers in charge of their destiny as they would get their inputs directly by paying half the cost of the inputs captured in the GES scheme.
“The new scheme is significantly different from the previous ones because rather than purchase inputs and distribute to farmers, the new scheme allows farmers to purchase only what they need, “ he said.
He pointed out that the GES had just been rolled out in one state, with more than 16 others to be involved.
Riman, who called on farmers to support the scheme, urged them to note the areas that needed improvement, assuring that this would be tackled when the scheme undergoes mid-term evaluation.
Mr Joshua Oyedele, the Chairman of the Ondo State Farmers’ Congress, expressed the support of cocoa farmers in the state to the scheme.
He said the explanation of the association’s president had erased all the doubts and anxieties that farmers had about the scheme, adding that “farmers need information on the process of collecting the inputs. “
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.