The Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged FCT Agriculture Secretariat to allocate more resources to farm inputs such as seedlings, livestock and fisheries in order to promote agriculture.
SWOFON made the call at a news conference on the “FCT 2024 Budget Analysis” organised by SWOFON, FCT Chapter, and Budget Committee Group in Abuja.
Mrs Comfort Sunday, Coordinator SWOFON, FCT Chapter, who acknowledged an increase in allocation to agricultural input for 2024 amounting to N710 billion compared to 2023 allocation of N101.9 billion, said the allocation was mainly on fertiliser.
“Allocation of the said amount mainly on fertiliser is to the detriment of other inputs such as veterinary medicine and wares, improved seeds and seedlings respectively.
“The neglect of other agricultural inputs beside fertiliser in the 2024 appropriation will likely lead to higher food prices and food shortages and can also impact livestock development in the FCT.’’
Sunday frowned at none budgetary allocation to agricultural credit in the 2024 Federal Capital Development Administration- Agriculture and Rural Development Services (FCDA-ARDS) budget in spite the importance of agricultural financing for smallholders women farmers.
She said that women farmers constituted the highest number of agricultural labour force in FCT.
Sunday further observed a consistent lump sum of N15. 8 million allocated to women in agriculture in FCT budget without increase.
According to her, the challenge makes budget tracking and monitoring difficult.
The coordinator, however, called for urgent increment in allocation on issues regarding women in agriculture to reflect high cost of inputs and services.
She emphasised that the gesture would go a long way to enhance their continued participation in food production and security.
“We recommend an upward review of budget line allocated to women in agriculture in order to drive at least 40 per cent increase to women in agriculture impact on more smallholder women farmers across FCT,” she said.
Also, Mrs Wakilat Okeji, Member, SWOFON Bwari Area Council, observed an astronomical reduction in the allocation to value chain development from N1.46 billion in 2023 to N220 million amounting to 85 per cent.
According to her, the 85 per cent reduction will hinder smallholder women farmers’ income from agricultural activities by limiting their access to new markets and products as well as opportunities for reducing post-harvest losses.
On her part, Olabisi Ogedengbe, SWOFON Coordinator, Gwagwalada, identified the sum of N7.9billion allocated to FCTA-ARDS out of the N1.2 trillion appropriation for FCT in 2024 as relatively poor.
According to her, the amount representing 0.67 per cent is below 10 per cent benchmark of Maputo Declaration and shows non-commitment of FCT to the development of agricultural sector.(NAN)
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