Determinants of farmers’ access to fertilizer under fertilizer task force distribution system in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the determinants of farmers’ access to fertilizer under Fertilizer Task Force Distribution System in Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random technique was used to select 160 farmers for the study. Probit model analysis on the factors that influence farmers’ access to fertilizer showed that age of the farmers, farm size (negative), distance to procurement centers, and social participation (positive) significantly influenced the probability of farmers’ access to fertilizer. Effective strategies of task force in the procurement and distribution of fertilizer perceived by the respondents among others are: distribution of fertilizer through local government agricultural offices, subsidy at source including transportation subsidy to delivery points, and promotion of subsidies for the poor farmers, development of private agro-dealers network. It is envisaged that these factors could serve as a guide to policy-makers regarding procurement and distribution of fertilizer to enhance farmers’ access and crop productivity in Nigeria.

Keywords:

• farmers’ access
• fertilizer
• probit analysis
• task force distribution system
• Nigeria

Public Interest Statement

Nigeria has the challenge of soil depletion and needs greater political action and mass mobilization of its population to avert the clear and present danger of massive food crisis. Fertilizers are needed to redeem her impoverished farmlands and forestall a looming food crisis in the country. Nigerian government imports more than 95 percent of the fertilizer needs of the farmers. Apart from the high cost of importing fertilizer, the challenge of its effective distribution to farmers across the country is enormous. Most of the time the fertilizer gets to the farmers at a cost they cannot afford or at a time they no longer need it. As one of the distribution strategies, Task Force Distribution System was used in Kogi State, Nigeria to distribute fertilizers to farmers. This study was conducted to assess factors that influence access to fertilizer under this strategy, to help sharpen effective fertilizer distribution strategy.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Moradeyo Adebanjo Otitoju

Moradeyo Adebanjo Otitoju bagged his PhD in Agricultural Economics from University of Nigeria. He is a Principal Research Scientist in Agricultural Biotechnology Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria. His area of research interest covers Production Economics, Farm Business Management, Resource and Environmental Economics, Poverty studies, and Socioeconomics of Food and Agricultural Biotechnology.

Dennis D. Ochimana

Dennis D. Ochimana till the time of his demise was an MSc student in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He worked with Kogi State Agricultural Development Programme (KGADP) before his demise. May his gentle soul rest in peace.