The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, NSHA, has called on the state government to allow the Ministry of Agriculture to collect its own revenue and implement sustainable farming practices.
This push for autonomy aims to align the ministry’s operations with advanced agricultural technologies and support small-scale farmers to ensure food security in the state.
Dr. Ibrahim Peter Akwe, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, stated that the current use of consultants for revenue generation is hindering the ministry’s performance and contravenes global best practices for enhancing food production.
Akwe voiced these concerns while hosting officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme, NADP, during a budget assessment session.
“The Rt. Hon. Speaker has directed us to oversee your activities. We want to know your 2024 budget performance for the first quarter. You can also tell us your challenges if you have any,” he stated.
The chairman pointed out the need for deliberate efforts to provide farming equipment and resilient farming methods.
These measures would improve access to credit and training for farmers, boosting productivity and sustainability.
He assured the committee’s support but expressed concerns that the current practices in the state’s agricultural ministry do not align with best practices.
Akwe noted that even at the federal level, where the Treasury Single Account, TSA, is practiced, the agricultural sector maintains revenue autonomy due to its economic significance.
He then called for greater cooperation between the state government, the State Assembly, and key players in the sector to bring about necessary changes.
Earlier, Umaru Abubakar DanAkano, the Commissioner for Agriculture, and Mr. Emmanuel Allahnana, Project Manager of NADP, presented their budget performances.
They commended Governor Abdullahi Sule’s efforts in the agricultural sector and expressed their commitment to continuing to develop policies and programs to boost food security in the state.
Mr. Allahnana also identified funding and a shortage of manpower, particularly extension agents, as major challenges facing the program.
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