Some women farmers in Bauchi have advocated for increased budgetary provisions to agriculture to encourage productivity.

Tabawa Atiku, chairperson of the Budget Committee Group (BCG), stated this on Friday in Bauchi during a visit to the State House of Assembly committees on appropriation and agriculture.

She said that budgetary allocation should focus more on smallholder women farmers. to support their agricultural activities and boost food production.

She said the group, under the public financing for agriculture budget committee advocacy, was geared to support women farmers to enable them to increase their productivity.

Ms Atiku stressed the need for adequate funding of extension services and prompt funds, to achieve farmer access to support services.

“Also the extension workers department should facilitate access to credit for smallholder women farmers to support their farming activities to boost food production and increased income, 

“Government should allocate budget and release funds for extension service delivery and make budgetary allocation for capacity building for existing extension officers  on modern agricultural practice,” she said.

Ms Atiku also urged the state government to ensure that targeted beneficiaries were reached to get desired results.

Commenting on the visit, Ms Atiku said the visit would enable the group to present findings of the 2024 agriculture budget analysis, and advocated increased budgetary allocation allocated to the sector.

Responding, Habu Umar, the chairman, House committee on appropriation lauded the for presenting good budget analysis.

He pledged to present the document to the house to address challenges affecting extension services.

Also speaking, Dayyabu Ladan, chairman, House  committee on agriculture pledged to work with the state’s commissioner for agriculture to facilitate an increase in budgetary allocation to the sector.

 ( NAN)