From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
As a means to alleviate hunger and poverty, the Kaduna State Government is set to spend N1 billion out of the N22 billion budgetary provision for the agricultural sector to boost food production in 2024.
This was revealed by the Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Muhktar Ahmed Monrovia, during the 18th and 1st Economic Planning Board meeting for the year 2024 at the Commission’s conference room in Kaduna State.
The Commissioner said the fertiliser subsidy became necessary as a deliberate effort to develop the rural economy of the state.
The statutory board meeting was captured in the PBC law as the Economy Planning Board (EPB,) and comprises all local government chairmen and some heads of government agencies such as the Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA), Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Primary Health Care Development Board, and the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB).
According to the commissioner, “We intend to raise money to finance this year’s community development-oriented budget.
“ We have already set a target of ambitious N120 billion internally generated revenue and we cannot raise such money without the collaboration and contribution of the local government chairmen.”
“Again, it is important to note that in the year 2024 budget, we have voted N22 billion for agriculture to drive agricultural activities in the state. This is the biggest ever in the last seven years.
“Part of this amount is N1 billion fertiliser subsidy because the governor has seen the need to invest in farms in rural areas. So the modality on the utilisation of the N1 billion is going to be handled by the commissioner of agriculture and executive secretary of KADA to see the best way the real farmers can get this subsidy.
“For example, if the cost of the fertiliser is going to cost N30,000 per bag (50kg), the government may decide to subsidise it by 50 or 40 per cent depending on the modifications we are going to adopt.
“In all these, the citizens’ participation is key. So, I want to encourage all of us in the state to support and collaborate with the government. We know the economic situation is frightening and the only way is to let us be patient and allow the government to continue its programmes.
“For the first time in a long time, we are having a governor whose interest is in the rural area. Let’s continue to be patient and collaborate with the government while our farmers are up and doing to ensure we have food security in the State”, he added.
On his part, the Chairman of Kudan LGA and doubled as Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kaduna State Chapter, Shuaibu Bawa Jaja noted that the need for cooperation and collaboration of the state and local government for even development cannot be overemphasised.”
