CSOs Urge Enhanced Funding for Kwara Small-holder Farmers

Date: 2024-05-14

According to a news report from Voice of Nigeria, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has advocated for increased budgetary allocation to support small-holder farmers in Kwara State, situated in the North-Central region of Nigeria.

The coalition emphasised that such augmentation would facilitate more efficient planning and implementation of government interventions within the agricultural sector.

During a press briefing in Ilorin on Monday, the CSOs scrutinised the 2024 Kwara agriculture budget, highlighting concerns over its inadequacy.

Representing the CSOs, Mr Abdurrahman Ayuba, the Executive Director of the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), underscored the significant disparity between the allocation for agriculture in 2024 compared to the previous year, 2023.

”The budget in 2023 was 2.12 per cent, while that of 2024 is just 1.49. There was a drop of 0.63 per cent. The 1.49 per cent is far below the international benchmark.

”We, therefore, urge the government to increase its agriculture budget to meet the 10 per cent Maputo/Malabo Declaration and Commitment.

”Also, there should be improved budgetary provision for the small-holder farmers, for hand-held devices, such as mini-tractors, weeders and planters, which will reach more farmers than the big tractors they find difficult to access and maintain.

”We, however, observed that in the 2024 agriculture budget, women in agriculture, received N11,379,900, which represents 0.26% of the total budget.

”This is commendable, when compared to what was provided in the year 2023, which was a paltry sum of N3,000,000; this is encouraging,” he said.

Equipment & Training

Ayuba called on government to do more for women in agriculture, especially in the area of women-friendly farming equipment and value addition.

”We advise the state government to also seek collaboration with relevant stakeholders, like National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, for production of farmer- friendly equipment like mini-tractors, weeders, etc,” he said.

He recommended continuous training for women farmers on modern farming techniques and best practices in order to increase productivity in the agriculture value chain.

”The committee has observed persistent zero budgetary allocation for farmers on access to credit; we encourage the government to allocate funds to this key area.

”The funds can be used for capacity building by the ministry of agriculture and natural resources to educate women farmers and support them on how to access available credit facilities with commercial banks and microfinance banks,” he said.

The CSOs like Welfare for Children and Teenagers Initiative, Fulfilling Dreams Foundation, Worthy Life Education/Health Foundation and FEMCOM were represented at the occasion.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Abubakar Baba     Muhammad Yahya     Kehinde Boyede     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Idris Amosa Saidu     Bolakale Saka     Yaman     Adekunle David Dunmade     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Hajj     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Kwara     Ahmed \'Lateef     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Bank Of Industry     Omoniyi     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Moses Afolayan     Oloriegbe     Amada Jidda     Amasa     Monthly Sanitation     Muhammed Danjuma     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     07039448763     Moji Makanjuola     Omoniyi Ayinla     Ayinde Oki     Michael Nzwekwe     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Moses Adekanye     Old Oyo     Charcoal     Manzuma     Hausa     Tope Daramola     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Nigeria Customs Service     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Kwara Hotel     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Olatomiwa Williams     Haliru Dantoro     Ali Ahmad     Radio SBS     Magaji Erubu     Ado Ibrahim     IQRA College     Sanitation Exercise     Albert Ogunsola     Okasanmi Ajayi     Moshood Mustapha     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Agor Market     UNILORIN Alumni Association     MATTA Girls Foundation     Quran     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Pius Abioje     Abdulazeez Uthman     TIIDELab     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Toyin Sanusi     Yahaya Dumoye     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Abdulkareem Alabi     Sobi FM     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Afetu Of Alabe     Local Government Pension Board     Benin Republic     Oniye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kunle Akogun     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Kehinde Baale     T And K FOODS     Folorunsho Erubu     Gani Saadu     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Gamji Members Association     SAPZ Project     Segun Abifarin     Mutawalle     Yusuf Badmus     Oba-Solagberu     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Yoonus Lawal     Borgu     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Split Diamond Interchange     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Idris Garba     Jare Olatundun     NURTW     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Olatinwo     Trader Moni     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Ibrahim Mashood     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Chikanda     Jide Ashonibare     Alaaya     Omoniyi     Olota Of Odo-Owa     General Hospital, Offa     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Tope Daramola     Amule Elementary School     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     SSA Youth     Mahe Abdulkadir     Otuka     Ayo Salami     Dankaka     Oke-Odo     Kayode Ibrahim     Wale Oladepo     Javed Khan     Tafida Of Kaiama     Ayedun     PharmAccess Foundation     Awili Pedro     Igbomina     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Oke-Ero     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     KWSUED     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Elerin Of Adanla     Okin Malt     SSA Youth Engagement     Valsolar Consultoria     Offa Poly     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Issa Manzuma     Kwara State Sports Commission     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Post Utme     Bank Of Industry     Michael Nzekwe     Alliance For Democracy     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Amuda Aluko     Olateju Lukman