![Food crisis: Consortium urges Bauchi govt to target right beneficiaries for farm inputs, funds, HOTPEN](https://hotpen.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG-20240507-WA0014.jpg)
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State Public Finance of Agriculture (PFA) budget committee, a consortium of various civil society organizations, has urged the state government to target the right beneficiaries for farm inputs and funds to avert the looming food crisis in the state.
Mrs Tabawa Atiku, Chairperson of the Committee made the call in a news conference on findings of the Bauchi State 2024 approved agricultural budget analysis on Tuesday in Bauchi.
She noted that the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HPLE) of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has recommended that all governments must continue to support smallholder farmers and local communities.
“Through appropriate stimulus packages (in cash or kind) to enhance food resilience and improve allocation to agriculture for food security,” Atiku said.
Atiku urged the state government to ensure that the right beneficiaries are targeted, and funds are utilized properly to get results.
“Budgetary allocation should also be made specifically for smallholder women farmers to support their agricultural activities.
“There is an urgent need to allocate budget lines for extension services and ensure total cash releases and expenditure so as to achieve access to farm demonstrations for smallholder women farmers.
“Extension services of the government should also be strengthened by recruiting new extension agents, building their capacity, and providing them with incentives and facilities necessary for their effectiveness.
She added that to meet the one extension worker to 3000 ratio in the field. The extension sub-sector should be revived and properly funded on a budget line for growth and improvement of productivity.
The Consortium of the Civil Society organizations of the Bauchi State PFA Budget Committee Group and the Media.