@unpublished{Asongu_181,
author = {Simplice Asongu A Joseph I. Uduji Elda N. Okolo-Obasi},
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Growth-Enhancement-Support-Scheme-and-Farmers-Fertilizer-Use-in-Rural-Nigeria.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-05},
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 = {agriculture, GESS, Nigeria},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}

@unpublished{Asongu_201,
author = {Simplice Asongu A Joseph I. Uduji Elda N. Okolo-Obasi},
url = {http://www.afridev.org/RePEc/agd/agd-wpaper/Electronic-wallet-technology-and-the-enabling-environment-of-smallholder-farmers.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-26},
abstract = {Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impact of growth enhancement support scheme (GESS) on the enabling environment of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Its special focus is to investigate the GESS impact on access to rural farm credit and transport cost of smallholder farmers in the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional that describes and interprets what exist at present. A total of one thousand, two hundred farmers were sampled across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Findings – Results from the use of a double-hurdle model indicate that the GESS has a significant impact on farmers’ access to credit, but does not significantly affect rural farm transport cost, which subsequently influence the price of food in the country. Practical implication – This implies that if the federal government of Nigeria is to work towards an ideal agricultural transformation agenda, transport networks should be closely aligned with the GESS priorities to provide connectivity to rural areas that provide most of the country’s agricultural output.

Originality/value – This research adds to the literature on agricultural and rural development debate in developing countries. It concludes that embracing rural finance and transportation infrastructure should form the foundation of the ATA in Nigeria, which in turn would provide the enabling environment for more widespread rural economy in sub-Saharan Africa.},
keywords = {agriculture, Electronic wallet, GESS, Nigeria},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}