The Smallholders Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, Gombe State on Tuesday called for increased allocation and release of agriculture budget in line with Malabo and Maputo Declaration of 10 per cent.
This was contained in a communique read by SWOFON spokesman, Airudia Mamman, at the 2025 consultative meeting on the agriculture budget in Gombe state.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting was organised by SWOFON, alongside Hope Foundation for the Lonely with support from ActionAid Nigeria with no fewer than 48 participants in attendance
Mamman said, “The Gombe State Government should commit 10 per cent of the annual budget to the agricultural sector to meet the 10 per cent Maputo/Malabo Declaration required to support at least six per cent growth rate for the sector as postulated in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme framework.
“There is an observed instability in the trend in terms of percentage allocation. This does not show a clear commitment to improvement, considering the role that agriculture plays in the economy. There is the need to progressively increase allocation to the sector in line with the CAADP benchmark as a demonstration of the States commitment to diversify the economy and create jobs through the sector.”
While urging the government on timely consideration of agriculture budget, the group added, “We therefore call on Gombe State Executive Council and the House of Assembly to scale up public investment in agriculture; ensure timely consideration, passage, and total budget releases as a strategic approach to increase food production, reduce hunger, poverty and achieve the Maputo/Malabo Commitment. Allocating resources in terms of figures to budget lines, especially capital allocations, is not enough.
“Analysis of previous budgets has shown that expenditure performance especially on capital has been very poor in terms of the release of funds. There is a need to ensure that there is no just timely but also total release of these funds are actually made for implementation to meet up the intentions.”
SWOFON harped on the need for specific capital projects’ locations to be clearly stated to allow for citizens monitoring and accountability to the people.
“For example, the budget line for agricultural extension has not been explained to give a clear picture of what is to be done.
“Provisions for Women and youth in Agriculture should be prioritised. Also, there should be timely disbursements of these funds.
“Government should make an effort to provide organic fertilisers instead of the inorganic to farmers in the state considering the health implication of the continual use of chemical fertilizer, its negative effect on the soil and climate change.A budget line for credits and loans for SWOFON and youths in the State should be created; this will greatly boost their output hence, food sufficiency, security and self-employment,” she said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Dr Barnabas Malle, who was represented by Bulus Jonathan called on the farmers to utilise the ministry’s incentives such as subsidy on implements hire.
“The ministry also provides extension services. We have opportunities in five centres across the state providing extension and hiring services. We have small mini tractors which can be hired for N50,000 per day, there is a power trailer which can be hired for a week at N30,000. As women they can be able to go there and hire it for a day. The mini tractor can prepare land up to six hectares a day while the power trailer can prepare up to three to four a day,” he added.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer HFL, Sarah Yapwa, tasked government on the Maputo/Malabo Declarations, adding that increased funding would ensure food security in the state.
She said, “Hunger will flee from our state. Hunger is a weapon of mass destruction; it can destroy more than any weapon of mass destruction. The second stanza of the song we are singing is the release of the budget to our women.”
