Gombe state government in Collaboration with Hope foundation organizes a one day summit on public financing for Agricultural budget in the state.
By Fatima Sadiq
Hope foundation for the lonely in collaboration with Gombe state public financing for Agriculture budget committee, have organized a one day summit on public financing for Agricultural budget.
In a communique issued at the end of the summit, the acting Chairman Budget Committee, Mr Yahaya Atiku said the summit brought together twenty five budget committee groups from fifteen civil society organization’s to brainstorm on how to adequately finance the Agricultural Budget Allocation.
Mr Yahaya Atiku said, the forum recognised and commends progressive improvements in collaboration between Gombe state government and small-scale women farmers organization (SWOFON) in their efforts towards promoting increased investment, transparency and accountability in public financing of agriculture across the state.
The Committee Chairman added that, the forum observed a marginal increased in agricultural budget allocations in the state between 2012 and 2021.
He however, said that the allocations are still far below the maputo/mallabo declaration benchmark of 10%, as agreed during the summit.
He further explained that, the non-release of budgeted funds especially to SWOFON and the Agricultural sector will continue to affect the capacity of state government to drive socio-economic development which include food security within the policy thrust of diversification, which focuses on small-scale women Farmers.
Mr Yahaya Atiku therefore, called on Gombe state government and the state house of assembly to scale up public investments in Agriculture and to ensure total budget release as a strategic approach to increase food production, reduce hunger, poverty and to implement the malabo 10% commitment.
The aim of the summit is to share experience and build links towards achieving increased public investments in Agriculture.
