Kwara Govt. promises budgetary provision for women farmers
Budget
By Usman Aliyu
Ilorin, June 26, 2018 (NAN) The Kwara Government has promised to provide for the needs of women farmers in its subsequent financial appropriations to encourage more women’s interest in agricultural activities.
Mr Adegoke Bamidele, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, made the promise in Ilorin on Tuesday when the Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFAN) paid him an advocacy visit.
The commissioner gave the assurance that women farmers, henceforth, would be considered and incorporated into the various agricultural schemes in the state.
He, however, urged the association’s leaders to furnish the ministry with the list of members, promising that he would discuss their requests with Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Reacting to the late distribution of farm inputs to farmers, Bamidele explained that the challenge had to do with bureaucracy of designated funding banks like Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He urged the association not to relent in its agitation for proper recognition and consideration in the state annual agriculture budget.
Earlier, Mrs Bode Anifowoshe, the President of SWOFAN in Kwara, said that the association was in the ministry to advocate budgetary provision for women in agriculture to enhance food production.
She blamed late distribution of farm inputs for the failure of the most well conceived agricultural schemes in the state.
According to her, in spite of farming season being at its peak, the state is yet to begin distribution of inputs to farmers under its Offtaker Demand Driven Agricultural Scheme (ODDA).
She also advised the government to ensure gender balance in its dealing with farmers in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was facilitated by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), a partner of Actionaid Nigeria. (NAN)
AUO/MOL/IA
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Idris Abdulrahman
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