By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Stakeholders have called on the Kogi State government to increase funding for the agriculture sector to improve food security in the state.
This call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the Kogi State 2025 Agriculture Budget. The meeting was organized by the Small Scale Women Farmers Association in Nigeria (SWOFAN) in collaboration with the state government and ActionAid Nigeria in Lokoja.
The communiqué emphasized the need for funding to support consultants or consultancy firms that assist women, youths, and farmers with disabilities in navigating the challenging credit access landscape in Nigeria.
It highlighted the necessity of reviewing existing agricultural policies and frameworks to develop a comprehensive policy that aligns with the proposed changes.
“We recommend that funding for the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) receive sustained attention. A specific portion of the budget should be allocated for credit, with a dedicated line for Strengthening Access to Credit each year,” the communiqué stated.
It noted that smallholder women farmers currently access less than 23% of formal credit and urged the Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to establish a yearly budget line for Strengthening Access to Credit.
Blessing Akhile, ActionAid Coordinator in Kogi State, stressed the importance of increasing the budgetary allocation to ensure adequate food production and poverty alleviation. Akhile emphasized that citizen input in budgeting is crucial for effective resource allocation.
On Tuesday, key stakeholders in Kogi State’s agricultural sector convened to discuss the 2025 agricultural projects. Dr. Bello Ogirima, Managing Director of the Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP), underscored the state’s potential for food production, citing available land, population, and technical expertise. He commended Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for empowering 7,000 farmers with 5,000 hectares of land and providing free inputs.
Hon. Dr. Bello Oluwaseyi Victor, House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, highlighted the need for legislative support and adequate budgetary provisions to strengthen agricultural agencies and ministries.
The meeting aimed to gather citizen input for the 2025 budget and promote participatory governance in agriculture. Stakeholders advocated for targeted investments, subsidized inputs, and climate-resilient practices to enhance food production, create employment, and drive economic growth.
