Agriculture
Agric Minister, Lawmakers Disagree Over Budget
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture are on a collision course at a budget defence session on Monday.
The Minsiter of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina had at a budget defence expressed in the ministry to increase their budgetary allocation in connivance with the legislature.
The Minister in a letter dated November 20, 2012 and addressed to all the 39 agencies under the ministry was alleged to have threatened to sanction any agency that attempts to seek an increase of its budget beyond what has been submitted to the National Assembly in the 2013 Appropriation Bill.
The minister has asked all the agencies to submit to his office such proposals as a way of checkmating such developments.
The directive from the minister which was read on the floor of the house and signed by one Idris Mamman stated thus: “I am directed to request you (agencies) to submit to the office of the Honourable, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Soft and have copies of documents prepared for 2013 budget defence with the National Assembly for his confirmation and record purposes.
“You are also to ensure that your programmes / projects and capital ceilings are at par with what was approved in the Executive Bill as any derivation from the 2013 Executive Bill will be viewed as serious misconduct, please ensure compliance,” it said.
However, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Tahir Mohammed Monguno dismissed the directive and insisted that the National Assembly had the powers to increase or shrink budget estimates where and when necessary.
He advised such agencies to disregard the warning from the Minister and urged them to increase their budgets were necessary.
He said the agencies necessary increases would be approved if they had projects and programmes that required higher budgetary allocations.
“I have a copy of the minister’s letter here warning the agencies before us here not to seek to exceed their budget envelopes for 2013 and that if they do so, they would face consequences.
“But I want to stress here that the issue of budgeting remains within the power of the National Assembly.
“It is us that would decide what budget would look like. The duty of the executive is to just present to estimate and nothing more, so l want you disregard what the minister has written and go ahead with your proposals,” he said.
Since 1999, budget rows have become an annual ritual as the National Assembly has always insisted on making amendments to the budget estimates presented to it by the executive arm of government.
In turn, however, the executive has viewed such moves as affront to economic plans.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
