ASHENEWS reports that a review of Niger State’s agricultural budget between 2020 and 2024 has shown that the state consistently failed to meet the 10 per cent budgetary allocation target agreed upon by African heads of state under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The Director of Research and Development of IBB University, Lapai, Professor Lawal Alimi Folorunsho, who led the budget analysis and review, disclosed that the highest allocation during the period was 7.2 per cent in 2021, with other years recording even lower figures.
Worse still, he revealed that less than 30 per cent of the already low allocations were actually released within the four-year period.
“This funding gap has stiffened the state’s agricultural development,” Folorunsho said, noting that only 11 out of 27 key performance indicators were budgeted for during the period under review.
Folorunsho made the presentation of the 2020-2024 budget analysis final report during the Agriculture Sector Coordination Meeting organized by the Niger state Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with AGRA in Minna.
According to him, the report also highlighted that projects led by development partners received better funding and more timely releases than those spearheaded by the government, despite the projects being executed by staff of the Ministry of Agriculture.
He said that despite these setbacks, Niger State recorded some improvements, particularly in yield per hectare and other areas of agricultural productivity.
Looking ahead, Folorunsho expressed optimism, noting that in 2025, the state government has allocated N416.16 billion representing 21.1 per cent of its budget to agriculture stressing that if timely releases are made, significant progress in the sector is achievable.
The Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Mathew Ahmed, said that they are working to ensure timely releases of the approved budget, calling for the release of the funds for the first six months to ensure speedy work in the sector.
He explained that the Agricultural Sector Coordination Meeting is meant to assess the activities of every ministry, agency and partners who are working with the Ministry to move the agricultural sector forward.
Ahmed said the state government is working towards hosting the Niger State Council on Agriculture to look at ways of moving the state agricultural sector forward. He called on ministries, agencies and partners to join hands for the success of the meeting.
