Stakeholders advocates adequate budgetary provision to agric sector

AbdulAhad Otuoze
Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sectors in Nigeria have been asked to join hands in making contributions that would lead to the growth of Agricultural Development in the Country.
The Executive Director of Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), Actionaid Nigeria Local Rights Partner, Halima Oiza Sadiq, gave the charge at a State level Dialogue on the Agricultural Joint Sector Review and the Biennial Review Report on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme CAADP organized by Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), Actionaid Nigeria Local rights partner, held on Wednesday in Lokoja, Kogi state.
The Executive Director pointed out that alot of work still needs to be done towards achieving food security through improved and adequate budgetary provision, expressed worry that a look at the performance score card in Nigeria and Kogi State calls for concern if meeting food Security and sufficiency is to be achieved.
While noting that the dialogue was aimed at reviewing the country’s performance in Agriculture, she lamented that two years after the last evaluation, with Nigeria coming a distant 49 in Africa, with a 5.18% budgetary provision for Agriculture, said the time for all hands to be on deck is now.
She called on stakeholders to look at the challenges, grey areas, and benchmark it with the 2021 budgetary provision for Agriculture with a view to proffer solutions to the much talked about food security and sufficiency.
The Executive Director said while efforts to dedicate 10% of annual budget for Agriculture is becoming a mirage, the ED called on stakeholders to look at efforts that would enable the country and Kogi State attain the minimum bench Mark of 6% budgetary provision for Agriculture if it can’t meet the 10%.
In a Welcome remarks, Mathias Okpanachi, Chairman of Kogi State Public Finance of Agriculture Budget Committee, listed challenges of meeting the 10% budgetary Maputo declaration, to include; Poor releases of budget funds and poor implementation of of activities as factors that have militated and affected budget implementation pin the country and kogi State,
He called on stakeholders to build synergy and enhance collaboration in achieving agreed target in the Agricultural Sector and put the Sector on the driving seat in the nation’s and State quest for sustainable development.
Making a presentation on Nigeria’s Current Biennial Review Score, Process, Challenges and Solutions, Presented by Friday Ogazi, of ActionAid Nigeria, called for a recommitment to the values of CAADP, enhancing Investment in financing agriculture, commitment to ending hunger in Africa by 2025 and halving poverty by 2025 through inclusive Agricultural growth and transformation.
He added that boosting intra African trade in Agriculture commodities and services, enhancing resilience of livelihood and commitment to accountability as way out and commitment to ensuring food security and sufficiency.