Fertilizer distribution in Nigeria is set to be done via mobile phones as Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council recently awarded a N 1.327 billion two-year contract for the implementation of an e-wallet system meant for farmers in the country.

Through the e-wallet system, farmers will be able to receive their allocations of agricultural inputs via mobile phone. According to the Nigerian Government, this is to reduce the level of corruption and graft in the agricultural space. The contract was approved by Nigeria’s Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

How it works
Farmers receive an sms alert with their fertilizer allocation thus eliminating the need for corrupt middle men. Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister claims that at present, the Ministry has a database of about 3.5 million farmers and that 75% of them are mobile phone users.

According to him:

We found that 75 per cent percent of farmers in the rural areas have phones and so we are moving into that electronic wallet. Here is how the system works; the farmers will get their alerts about the allocation for seeds and fertilizers, they will go to the agro dealer in their own village and they will send that information to the agro dealer, seeds and fertilizers suppliers are also on the electronic platform.

“The farmer is getting a subsidy of 50 per cent and the farmer will pay the balance of 50 per cent, then collect their seeds and fertilizers and the transaction is completed and no money has changed hands.”

What do you think about this method of fertilizer distribution in Nigeria?

http://www.cp-africa.com/2012/03/30/nigerian-government-to-distribute-fertilizers-by-mobile-phone/