ABUJA – The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, on Monday urged the Federal Government to meet the 2013 Maputo declaration to sustain developments in agricultural sector.
Adesina made the call in Abuja at the inauguration of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) Policy Working Group at Transcorp Hilton.
The `Maputo Declaration’ states that African nations should commit at least 10 per cent of national budgetary resources to agriculture and rural development policy implementation within five years.
The declaration came after the Second Ordinary Assembly of the African Union in July 2003 in Maputo.
The minister said: “While much has been achieved, several challenges still face the agriculture sector.
“The level of funding for the agriculture sector is still very low compared to the recommended 10 per cent of national budgetary allocation under the Maputo declaration. [eap_ad_2] “There is an urgent need to increase the budget to agriculture to 10 per cent of the national budget, to meet the growing needs of the sector and sustain the gains that have been achieved.
“While much progress has been made in expanding access to finance for agricultural input traders, seed and fertiliser companies, farmers’ access to finance is still very low.
“There is an urgent need to revamp the Bank of Agriculture, provide access to affordable finance for farmers and agribusinesses at single digit interest rates, while expanding the capacity of rural finance institutions,’’ he urged.
Adesina said trade and investment policies should be in line with ATA to protect the achievement made in the sector, saying that Nigeria should not be a dumping ground.
He also charged the policy working group to come up with ways of sustaining and further developing the achievement of the ATA.
Responding on behalf of the group, the Chairman of the ATA Policy Working Group, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye, appreciated the minister for the opportunity to serve.
He acknowledged that agriculture had made giant strides under the President Goodluck Jonatha- led administration.
“We have accepted your kind invitation to serve the Agricultural Transformation Agenda and we pledged to support the government and development partners,’’ he said.
Members of the group included Prof. Paul Amaza, Vice Chairman, Prof. Justice Onu, Prof. Adebayo Aromolaran, Prof. Titus Awokuse, Prof. Yakubu Fabiyi and Prof. Eric Eboh.
Others are Prof. Ebele Amali, Prof. Michael Kwanashie, Prof. Aderibigbe Olomola, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, Prof. Benjamin Ahmed, Prof. Gabriel Ayoola and Dr John Egbuta. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]