GES scheme: Adamawa farmers criticize FG over low inclusion rate

Cattle breeders in Adamawa state have complained that only ten of their members benefitted from the federal government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for the dairy sub-sector in the state.
It could be recalled that in 2013 a total of 878 dairy farmers were captured under the scheme aimed at boosting national milk and meat production, but only 10 farmers benefitted.

A reliable source in the Yola office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told Weekly Scope  that the programme was designed for easy provision of supplement feeds and salt lick to dairy farmers.
Chairman of National Dairy Farmers Association, Adamawa branch, Alhaji Adamu Muhammed, complained that out of 878  dairy farmers registered in the state, only 10 benefitted from the programme.

Mohammed expressed concern over the development.
Also commenting, Dr. Moses Auta,  a Yola-based veterinarian and cattle breeder, said: “The dairy value chain scheme is a good project, if properly implemented.

“But, with the situation on ground, it seems that the government has not prepared well for the programme.”
Dr. Joseph Gwanti, a private agro-dealer, who was responsible to for the provision of cattle supplement  attributed the situation to poor arrangements in the state, noting that the programme was currently moving smoothly in other states.

Gwanti said: “The reasons behind the failure of the programme in the state are many.
“One of the reasons is the inability of  the Federal Government to provide and deposit the agreed 10 per cent of the  total sum in banks as has been done in other value chain schemes.

“Another is the problem of security challenges in the state, as many transporters contacted to transport the cattle feeds to Adamawa, vehemently refused.”
Meanwhile, effort to contact the state Director, federal ministry of agriculture , Dr. Walia Hamman , failed as the director was said travelled to Abuja for emergency meeting.