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.

Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Eleja     Edu     Photo News     Aliyu Muyideen     Tafida Of Kaiama     Students Union Government     Owu Fall     Ajibike Katibi     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Saka Onimago     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Durosinlohun Kawu     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Bolakale Saka     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Prince Bola Ajibola     Kwara Central     Olaiya Zuberu     Kwara State Pension Board     Abdulfatah Ahmed     Idris Amosa Saidu     Split Diamond Interchange     Face Masks     Yusuf Olaolu Ali     Rafiu Olasile     Dumagi     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Belgore     All Peoples Party     Oko-Olowo     Ilorin Curfew     Busari Alabi Alausa     Saudat Abdulbaqi     Mubarak Oladosu     Muhammad Yahya     Oluronke Adeyemi     Ilorin Central Mosque     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Adamu Atta     Muhammed Aliyu     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Elerin Of Adanla     Ibrahim Akaje     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     IF-K     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Eruku     Ariyo     Gaa Olobi     Sheikh Ariyibi     Michael Ologundea     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Najim Yaasin     Lithium     Adedipe     Lawal Olohungbebe     Lanre Olosunde     Isapa     Senate     Kemi Adeosun     Abdulfatai Baakini     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Unilorin     GAMA     Hassanat Bello     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Sherif Shagaya     Quranic Recitation Competition     Barakat Community Secondary School     Oloye     Shehu Jimoh    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Aliyu Kora Sabi     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Revenue Court     Babajide Ajayi     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Kemi Adeosun     Igbomina     Buari Edun     International Aviation College     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Quareeb     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Atunwa     Olushola Saraki     TESCOM     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Yusuf Abdulraheem     UNIFEMGA     Amusa Bello     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Folashade Omoniyi     Bayer AG     Jalala     Ahmad Lawan     Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road     EFCC     Idris Amosa Saidu     Isin     Oni Adebayo     Bursary     Park     AIT Ilorin     Oya State     Undergraduate Bursary     Lai Gobir     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Sulyman Tejidini     Zara Umar     KwaraLearn     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Ajase-Ipo     First Lady     ENetSuD     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Olokoba Sulyman     Turaki Of Ilorin     Apaokagi     Gbemisola Saraki     Leke Ogungbe     Bello Abubakar     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Anilelerin     Sheikh Alimi     Tafida     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Village Alive Development Association     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Yahaya Seriki     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Erin-ile     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Arca Santa     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Abatemi-Usman     Yusuf Mubarak     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Oyedepo     Sobi Hill     Olupako     Ramadhan     Abdullahi Samari