………The Agric Ministry, Economic Planning, Others Call For Speedy Consideration Of 2024 Budget.
…….ENVIRUNMEDIC Says, Increased In Agric Budget, Panacea To Food Sufficiency, Or Security In Delta, Nigeria.
…….DTSG To improve the 2024 Agriculture sector budget and it’s Implementation in 2024.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has called for speedy consideration of the 2024 budget for early release of fund for Agricultural production.
The Media learnt that, the call was part of recommendations as contained in the communique of the one day
state level stake holders consultative meeting on 2024 Delta state Agriculture budget held recently at Orchid Hotel, Asaba, delta capital.
The one state level stakeholders consultative meeting which is also in collaboration with some non-state actors had the voice of different critical stakeholders who called on state government to ensure more investment in Agriculture, if it could meet with the target of comprehensive Agricultural Development Programme ( CAADP) and Malabo Declaration of 10% allocation to Agriculture.
The communique in one of its observation decried the decline in Agriclture productivity and its attendant failure to contribute to nation’s GDP. It blamed it to a number of factors which include climate change, the Ukrainian war snd recently, Israel Hamas conflict.
The above factors notwithstanding, late release of fund to the Agriculture Ministry continues yo impede the capacity to drive socio-economic development including food and nutrition security.
Therefore more allocation of fund to Agriculture ministry would encourage her to increase more public investment in the Agric sector that will address the strategic investment that could increase the Agric GDP to at least 6%. However, an official of Delta State Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources, has said that the State government under Sheriff Oborevwori ensure full implementation of Agricultural Budget in the coming year 2024.
ENVIRUNMEDIC CEO, Chief Monday Itoghor, Senior Program Manager & Officer, Lucky Enegide, Alex Okekporo has urged Delta State Government, Federal Government of Nigeria to increase its budget for Agriculture, while stating that, such development will create room for food security, sufficiency in the country.
Other dignitaries who attended the event, made their contributions during the workshop included amongst others are: Members of Delta CSOs, SWOFON, Officials of Delta State Ministry of Agriculture, Economic planning, BOA, NAIC, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and others to mention but a few.