Abstract

Farm inputs, such as improved seedlings and fertilisers, are germane to enhancing farmers? productivity. However, government efforts at making them affordable and accessible to farmers are fraught with sharp and corrupt practices. The electronic wallet scheme was introduced by the federal government to curb the menace. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the scheme in curbing sharp practices associated with agricultural input accessibility by smallholder farmers in Kano State. Using structured interview schedule, the study elicited information from 180 respondents selected from 9 LGAs of the state through multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected on socio-economic and e-wallet scheme related characteristics of the respondents and their perception about the effectiveness of scheme. Frequency counts, percentages and weighted mean score values were used for data analysis. Majority of the beneficiaries of the scheme were male (88.9%), married (81.1%) and within their productive age range (mean age = 43.1 years). Some, although very few, were neither registered in the scheme (5%), nor had mobile phone (3%), while more proportion (about 32%) did not attend the requisite e-wallet training, yet they benefitted from input distribution under the scheme. Farm inputs benefitted from were mainly subsidised fertiliser and improved seeds and frequency of benefit was low. Although beneficiaries mostly perceived e-wallet scheme as effective in ensuring transparency and reducing sharp practices prevalent in the old system, yet the ?people? component (i.e. human factor) of the e-wallet system seemed vulnerable which could undermine the success of the initiative. Recommended, amongst others, is need for government to pay special attention to disproportion in gender composition amongst beneficiaries, while also ensuring that stipulated conditions, such as registration of beneficiaries, possession of mobile phones, and attendance of necessary training are abided with in order to check corrupt practices. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, government should be on the lookout for culprits and defaulters and sanction them appropriately.

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