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Input value chain/Nigeria - Agric ministry introduces new measures for fertiliser allocation

14 September 2015

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is soon to introduce the National Agricultural Payment Initiative (NAPI) as a boost to the 2013/14 E-Wallet fertilizer distribution system, geared to biometrically capture the data of all farmers under the scheme, revealed the Bauchi State Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. NAPI is an improved version of the E-Wallet system which is going to capture biometrical data of all farmers. According to the director, successes recorded during the last e-wallet system of fertilizer allocation will be fused into the new programme, as errors noticed during the e-wallet system are consolidated into the new NAPI scheme. The non-payment of the outstanding agro-dealers’ arrears was the main cause that has not allowed the implementation of the programme early 2015, but efforts are being made by the ministry to offset the outstanding arrears. The E-Wallet allocation system in which farmers use GSM to redeem fertilizer had experienced some problems such as lack of GSM by some farmers and problem of network especially in rural areas, hence the introduction of electronic identification cards for farmers to operate like the ATM. Under the new system, cards will be issued to farmers with national identification numbers. It is a smart card just like the ATM cards whereby at any given time farmers can access inputs without problem of network, they can go into banks and make transactions using Point of Sale (POS) machines and they can access loans. He urged farmers to get ready for registration under the new programme in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission and state governments for farmers’ registration. The Nigerian government is assisting to disentangle access to fertilizer for smallholder farmers, whereas publicly subsidized fertilizer supplies oftentimes arrive late, after the planting season has passed.

http://www.agribusinessafrica.net/index.php/3088-agric-ministry-introduces-new-measures-for-fertiliser-allocation

http://www.springfieldcentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Oct-2011-Making-Fertiliser-Markets-Work-for-the-Poor.pdf

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