agriculture
Stakeholders seeks involvement in Agric budget planning
,
Stakeholders in the Agriculture sector in Kwara have urged the state government to always involve them in budget planning and preparation towards having inclusive programmes.
The stakeholders made call in Ilorin on Wednesday at the 2020 Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the Kwara Agric Sector Performance and 2021 Agric budget.
The meeting was convened by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), a partner of Actionaid Nigeria.
Mr AbdulRahaman Ayuba, Senior Programme Officer of CCEPE in his submission, urged the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to invite them to analyze budget together.
He also called on the government to raise the budgetary provision for the sector from the current meagre percentage.
“In the 2020 budget, five million was allocated for extension services and three million for agricultural equipment which would not be enough for the purchase of reasonable amount of tractors, harvesters and other equipment
“It was recommended that there should be regular empowerment for the farmers and a forum that will enable the government, Ministry and farmers have interaction for the betterment of the sector in the state
“On 20th April, another meeting was held for the budget to be revised
He said that the ministry of Agriculture should clearly identify where 28 million was allocated and the removal of one million from the budget.
While Responding, a Director from the Ministry of Planning and Finance, Mr Ajayi Mathew, explained to the stakeholders that if they want to be involved in budget planning they have to write the government.
He challenged the NGOs of not being fully involved in the Federal level of budget planning, which leads to the approval of low funds in the budget.
Another respondent, Hussain Hafsat, the Deputy Director Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Mall, said that the state government is hiring tractors to farmers irrespective of the gender.
Aslnyanbi Kuburat, the Assistant Chief Social Welfare Officer, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development however urged women farmers in the state to be committed to work as support would be coming from the government in no time.
She said that the state government is ready to give out micro credit loan mainly for women farmers, women empowerment in form of cash and support of cooperative societies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting which was graced by members from ministry of Agriculture, ministry of Planning, Ministry of Women Affairs was aimed at reviewing the budget and planning for 2021 budget for the Agricultural Sector in Kwara state.
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng