The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Tuesday identified the total sum of N8.187 billion as frivolous, inappropriate and wasteful expenditure in the Agriculture allocation of the 2021 budget.
This was made known at a joint press briefing by CSJ and the Small Scale Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (SWOFON) in Abuja, tagged ‘Review of the 2021 Agriculture Budget estimates.’
Speaking on behalf of CSJ, Public Finance Officer of the organisation, Fidelis Onyejegbu said the savings from such frivolities should be channeled to the needs of small scale women farmers (SSWF).
He also said the budget should provide gender friendly machinery and equipment such as hand sprayers, power tillers, ploughs, planters among others, especially low cost and locally fabricated equipment which can be easily maintained by local artisans.
Onyejegbu added that the N5 billion deployed to this line item at an average cost of NN250,000 will fetch 20,000 units.
“The allocation to Agriculture as a key growth driver of the Nigerian economy should be increased to not less than 50 per cent of the Malabo/Maputo commitment of 10 per cent of overall budget.
This means 5 per cent of the overall budget which comes up to N654.12 billion.
“Rework the budget in accordance with the policy, plan budget continuum to reflect the full implementation of the Nigeria gender policy and the national gender policy in agriculture and other applicable national and international standards.”
On his part, the Programme Officer, Governance, Mr. Victor Emejuiwe maintains that considering the number of agencies in the Agriculture Ministry, and their mandates, programme the bulk of the capital capital vote of the ministry to the respective agencies.
He further stated that research institutes should be limited to specific assignments within their mandates to justify their continued receipt of public funds.
Also speaking, the National President of SWOFON, Mrs. Mary Ishaya Atan called on the federal government to increase support of extension services for small holder women farmers in their communities.
