Need for proactive planning in agric programmes

Chief Audu Ogbeh: Minister of agriculture

The Federal Government has underscored the need for proactive planning in all the programmes of the agricultural sector.

Mrs Nana Fatima Mede, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, conveyed the government’s position in Kaduna on Monday at the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on 2018 Agriculture Budget.

Mede, who was represented by Mr Kayode Obasa, Director, Economic Growth, in the ministry, said that the need for pragmatic and proactive planning was because of the importance of the agricultural sector in the national economy.

She said that apart from contributing over 70 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), agriculture provided employment for a larger section of the citizenry.

She, however, noted that in terms of national income, agriculture was not playing a significant role, as proceeds from crude oil sales were the mainstay of the national economy.

Mede, therefore, lauded the stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the 2018 agriculture budget, saying that it was part of the proactive efforts of the ministry to ensure “that we get things right from the outset’’.

Also speaking, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Mr Ojobo Ode Atuluku, said that agriculture had the potential to grow and expand the nation’s economy.

Atuluku was represented by Mr Tunde Aremu, Action Aid’s Policy Advocacy and Campaigns Manager at the occasion.

Atuluku said that if the right investments had been made, over the years, to support smallholder farmers, the nation’s economy would not have slipped into recession.

‘‘Over the years, the country had failed to provide critical support to these farmers who feed the nation in the area of agricultural finance, farm inputs, extension services, climate resilient sustainable agriculture, labour-saving technologies and research and development.

‘‘Where these had been provided, they had been insufficient and with excessive overheads, unclear and wasteful allocations,’’ he added.

Atuluku said that agriculture was the only sector that could provide the number of the needed jobs, if the country’s full agricultural potential was unlocked.

He expressed the support of ActionAid for the Federal Government’s new Agricultural Promotion Policy to improve the nation’s economy.

He noted that the policy spelt out the underlying challenges of policy framework, political commitment, agricultural technology, infrastructure deficit, finance and risk management, institutional reform and realignment, which needed to be tackled.

‘‘We, however, believe that solving these challenges, as envisaged in the agriculture promotion policy, is only achievable through participatory budgeting.

‘‘This model is capable of guaranteeing more equitable public spending, greater government transparency and accountability, increased levels of public participation as well as democratic and citizenship learning,’’ he said.

The stakeholders’ consultative meeting is aimed at generating discourse on the themes of the government’s agricultural policy, while facilitating citizens’ inputs into the proposed 2018 Agriculture Budget.

 

Facebook Comments Box
Copyright 2024 ROYAL NEWS. All rights reserved. Digital material on this website, may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from ROYAL NEWS.
 

For Adverts and News/Event Coverage, contact 08061346946, 07030849251. Or email info@royalnews.com.ng

Download ROYAL NEWS app

Html code here! Replace this with any non empty raw html code and that's it.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe

Popular News

Latest News

More like this
Related

Citing additional revenues, Tinubu increases 2025 budget to N54.2trn

President Bola Tinubu has raised the proposed 2025 budget...

Oba of Orile Ifo, AbdulSemiu Ogunjobi in Ilaro Prison [READ WHY]

The suspended traditional ruler of Orile Ifo, Oba Abdulsemiu...

SERAP gives Tinubu fresh directives over ‘N26bn missing fund’

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President...

BREAKING… Emir Sulu-Gambari appoints Yakubu Layi Gobir as new Sarkin Gobir

The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional...

I’m extremely proud of your achievements, Emir Sulu-Gambari tells new UNILORIN Professors

The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional...

Sen. Nwoko formally dumps PDP, joins APC

The formal defection of Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta...

US-Nigerian cardiologist, Dr. Ikenna Erinne commits suicide [READ DETAILS]

A 36-year-old United States-based Nigerian cardiologist, Ikenna Erinne, has...

Maikudi sacked as UNIABUJA Vice Chancellor, Lar Manko appointed

Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi has been sacked from her...

JUST IN….UNILORIN student reportedly commits suicide over economic hardship

A yet to be student of the University of...

Senate invokes constitutional power, sacks Adamawa, Sokoto, Abia RECs

Senate, on Wednesday, invoked Section 157(1) of the 1999...

2019 budget passes 2nd reading at the KWHA

The 2019 Budget Estimate has passed through Second...

Offa armed robbery attack disheartening—-Emir of Ilorin

The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Traditional Council, Alhaji...

JUST IN… Tinubu approves new appointments

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday approved the appointment...

Kaduna Assembly moves to approve College of Agricultural Technology

The Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Education...

World Hepatitis Day: NGO organises free testing for 1,000 people in Nasarawa State

Beacon Youths Initiative (BYI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has...

Economic hardship: Reverse hike in petrol price, IEDPU begs FG

Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the apex sociocultural...

30yr-old man rescued after 3weeks in wilderness

A 30-year-old man, Tyson Steele, has been rescued after...

ROYAL FATHER OF THE WEEK: Ooni Enitan Ogunwusi Ọjájá II

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ọjájá II...

BREAKING…. See what Kwara Govt did to two warring mornachs

Movements of the two traditional rulers, Alofa of Ilofa,...