Women farmers and youths in Kwara state have urged the state government to grant them access to cheap and easy credit facilities for improved agricultural production.
Speaking on the Analysis of 2022 Kwara Agriculture Sector Budget in Ilorin, the President of Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria , Hajiya Bosede Anifowose, said there was no budgetary allocation made to ‘Access to Credit’ as a baseline budget in the 2022 allocation.
According to her, farmers’ access to credit is critical and key to sustainable farming towards ensuring food security.
She urged the state government to make provision for the budget line and set a mechanism for monitoring and getting feedback to guarantee sustainability.
Hajiya Anifowose said the state Ministry of Agriculture should create a yearly strengthening Access to Credit budget line.
In his address, the Coordinator SUPIA project in Kwara state, Abdurrahman Ayuba, represented by Ms. Kaosara Sulaimon, said there was no provision for Women farmers in the 2021 and 2022 budget allocations.
He however, recommended specific
budgetary allocation for smallholder women farmers in subsequent budget.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU