Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 19 ISSUE 3
Written by Halyna HRESHCHUK

The study assessed the level of accessibility of inputs through GESS and analyzed the structure and operations of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) on input supply to small-scale farmers in Southwestern Nigeria so as to examine the effectiveness of GESS in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed in selecting 420 GESS farmers from three states in the southwestern zone namely: Osun, Ondo and Ogun. Validated and pretested interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data from the small-scale farmers. Data collected were described with frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation. Chi-square and Correlation analyses were used to draw inferences from the hypotheses. Results showed that the mean age of the small-scale farmers was 49.57±10.49 years and a high level, 75.70 percent were males. All the respondents (100.00%) showed low level of access to inputs. Analysis of the structure and operations of GESS on input supply showed that GESS was structured and operated by the government among the various stakeholders using the topdown approach. Out of the nineteen GESS effectiveness indicators, none was effective at solving the problems of inputs delivery to the respondents. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between the effectiveness of GESS and respondents’ sex (X2=46.159; p≤ 0.01). Correlation analysis also showed a positive and significant relationship between effectiveness of GESS and accessibility of farm inputs (r=0.222; p≤ 0.01). It was concluded that GESS recorded a low level of effectiveness of GESS in the study area as a result of low level of accessibility of agricultural inputs through GESS. The study therefore recommends that quantity of input supply be increased and that more inclusive participatory approach instead of top-down approach should be adopted for planning, execution and evaluation of the GESS programme.

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