From Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
The United States Agency for international development (USAID), in and the palladium have advocated five per cent increase in the budget earmarked for agricultre by the Ebonyi State government.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the road walk, the lead director of neighborhood women intiative advancement and clutter Host in Ebonyi state, Mrs. Nancy Oko Onya, said the Agric plus clustter Budget is the process taken to ask the three states that is currently benefiting from the project to increase Agric Budget of different state particularly in Ebonyi.
Mrs Oko Onya, revealed that the budget of Agriculture in the state is currently 2.5% therefore asking the state government to increase Agricultural budget and practice and to reduce hanger, poverty, malnutrition and death In the state by implementing budget Of Agric to 5%, she revealed.
“We have also met with clerk of Ebonyi state house of Assembly on Agriculture we have created awareness and celebrated International youth day asking that youths should get into Agriculture seeing that older population of Agriculturists is living stage for a younger once”, She said.
According to her, the increase would enhance food production in the state and create more jobs opportunity for Ebonyi residents.
Responding, the deputy chief of staff, government house , Engr Timothy Nwachi while speaking, commended the group for its advocacy for the welfare of Ebonyi citizens through agricultural machanization, assuring them of Government attention on sustainability of Agricultural Budget input to 50%.
Engr Nwachi, noted that the statistics shows that Ebonyi state recorded top most among the states that produces largest rice in Nigeria, having surpass that record, an increase on Agricultural projects and activities would help to improve on there capacity not just rice production but other Agric product as long as farming is concern .
The deputy chief of staff, added that the government of Ebonyi state led by Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru who have passion for Agriculture would not hesitate to look into the improvement on budget of 5% implementation
He further revealed that the state government has directed local government chairmen to start distribution of fertilizer to the rural communities of the state and all this is what governor has put in place to ensure that Ebonyi remains at the topest when it come to Agriculture.
“Having 2.7,%, it will not be a difficult thing to increase the budget of Agriculture to 5% as you requested because this protest came at the right time because no distance time, government will start preparation of the state budget in which Agriculture will not be left out.
