Kano slashes agric budget by 70 percent

Agriculture, not only in Kano but in all parts of northern Nigeria, is believed to be the backbone of the region’s economy as well as the sector that provides employment to millions of people.Kano, particularly, is prominent in irrigation farming. Agriculture is the source of living for millions of the state’s indigenes. This is why […]

Agriculture, not only in Kano but in all parts of northern Nigeria, is believed to be the backbone of the region’s economy as well as the sector that provides employment to millions of people.
Kano, particularly, is prominent in irrigation farming. Agriculture is the source of living for millions of the state’s indigenes. This is why successive administrations in the state gave the sector a lot of attention.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso testified to this fact during the presentation of the 2014 appropriation bill thus; “Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of this honourable house, we are determined to invigorate agricultural development to regain its past glory in the state.
“You could recall in this outgoing fiscal year, we earmarked the sum of N9.68 billion for the sector to cater for various undertakings that would facilitate increase in food production. I am glad to inform this honourable house that a significant milestone has been attained in this regard.”
However, when the governor Kwankwaso stated that in 2014, the state intends to spend only N2.5 billion, many indigenes of the state began to express their reservations.
A look at the budget showed that the agricultural sector is lagging behind the provision of infrastructure that got N81.01 billion and education that got N20.85 billion. Other sectors that are ahead of the agricultural sector include water supply with N5.88 billion and health with N3.98 billion.
Malam Ja’afar Umar, a farmer in Kano State, said, “we agree that provision of infrastructure, water supply and education are all important sectors, but it is not proper in a state like Kano where millions survive on agriculture and yet the sector got only N2.5 billion in a whole year. In my own opinion, government ought to have done better.
“We can use this sector to establish even agriculture-based industries especially in areas like Kadawa, Challawa, Tiga and many others that are famous in irrigation farming. Therefore, for me, the amount voted for the agricultural sector is inadequate and the government needs to review that for the benefit of our farmers and other people of Kano,” he said.
On the other hand, however, Kwankwaso believed that the state under his charge has made significant inroad in the agricultural sector, hence the N2.5 billion is meant to consolidate the achievements and the huge amount of money that was expended in the previous years.
Giving an insight on how the state government intends to disburse the N2.5 billion, Kwankwaso said N100 million would be expended on development of agricultural skills acquisition institutes.
“Fertilizer procurement and distribution would get N700 million; Leventis foundation agric school and tractarization programme, N125 million; prevention of zoonotic diseases and vaccination campaign against CBPR and PPR N20 million; KNARDA programmes including commercial agriculture credit scheme and animal traction/farm mechanization institute, N1.14 billion, while Kano Zoo and Wildlife Management Agency to get N144.5 million.
“The above agricultural programmes will run alongside our empowerment training programmes in our agricultural institutes namely; Poultry Institute, Danbatta, Fisheries Institute Bagauda, Farm Mechanization Institute Danbatta, Irrigation Training Institute Kadawa, Institute of Horticulture Bagauda, and Livestock Institute Bagauda,” Kwankwaso stated during the budget presentation.
While the Kano government feels that N2.5 billion would be adequate for agricultural activities in 2014, many observers and farmers however hold a contrary view.
Malam Umar said, “no one can convince me that N2.5 billion is enough for the agricultural sector in a whole year. If truth must be told, the government needs to review this decision for our own benefit.”