A group under the auspices of Public Finance on Agriculture (PFA) Budget Committee, has called on Bauchi state government to tackle food insecurity in the state.
The spokesperson of the group, Hajia Amina Jibrin made the call when it paid a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Aminu Gamawa on Monday.
She stressed the need for the state government to address the challenge of food insecurity.
“Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration must prioritize agriculture alongside health and education that have often attracted much funding over the years.
“I implore the state government to embark on bulk purchase of ox-ploughs that are easy to manage by women farmers.
“The government should also purchase rice millers and other processing machinery for crops like groundnuts, soya beans and the likes,” Jibrin said.
Responding, Gamawa assured state government’s support to women farmers through existing cooperative societies and active smallholder women groups.
“This is to enable them achieve their desire of engaging in commercial farming,” he said.
He reiterated that the present administration acknowledges the call for increased budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector.
“We are more concerned about a realistic budget that would bring about the expected revolutionary change in the sector,” he said.
The Commissioner explained that his ministry was working closely with the ministries of agriculture and women affairs and youth.
“This is with a view to ensuring that the needs of women smallholder farmers are captured in their respective MDAs proposed 2021 budget,” he said.
Gamawa therefore advised the group to present their needs to the MDAs, assuring that his ministry would accord priority to their call when preparing the 2021 budget.
He advocated for massive awareness campaign on agriculture to enable farmers understand the passion the present government has for the sector.
“Agriculture should be seen as a business with less risk, less investment but high yield,” the Commissioner said.
