ActionAids Nigeria in collaboration with Small-scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria and CAADP Nin-State Actors Coalition (CNC) has faulted the budget sharing ratio between the Ministry of Agriculture and the 45 agencies under it, saying it is unfair and should be adjusted.
The stakeholders, raised the concern during a press briefing in Abuja, saying the ministry allocation for 2023 is N228.4 billion with N131.7 billion allotted for the main ministry representing 57% while over 45 agencies under her including Universities of Agriculture, share N96.7 billion which represents 42.3%.
They agreed that the sharing will not allow the implementing agencies executive
projects and focus on its roles adequately.
Speaking during the briefing, the Policy, Advocacy Manager, One Campaign, Mr Razaq Fatai, said the budget for the sector in the last seven years has not exceeded two per cent of the total budget.
He said the empirical evidence has shown that greater the resources committed to the sector, the greater the output in terms of social benefits to the society.
He said if the government is to allocate 10% of the 2023 budget to the sector according to the CAADP benchmark, the sector will have account for the reduction of poverty in the country.
Also, the Chairperson, CAADP Non-State Actors, Nigeria chapter, Rosemary Effiong, called for the creation of separate agriculture Emergency Fund outside the budget to avert the looming food crisis.
ActionAids Nigeria programme Manager, Mr Azubike urges the National Assembly members to increase budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector, saying the budget is not enough for the sector.
