By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA — THE National Assembly at the weekend, pushed for separate agricultural budget for speedy release of funds to boost performance, productivity and food security in the country.

This was the position of both Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on Agriculture and Rural Development of the National Assembly, during a joint oversight function at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja, led by both chairmen, Sen Abdullahi Adamu and Hon Mohammed Monguno respectively.

Speaking on the need the for a separate budget for the agricultural sector, House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Hon Monguno, maintained that agricultural practices are seasonal, and that late release of approved funds has hampered smooth execution of programmes and projects by the Ministry, therefore affecting farmer’s productivity and food security over the years, which has been a major problem in the sector.

Monguno also frowned at some cumbersome provisions of the Procurement Act that have negatively impacted the sector, therefore has frustrated the government and farmers effort to make the nation self-sufficient in food production and security.

His words: “There is need for the legislature and executive to collaborate to make sure budgetary issues concerning agriculture are removed from the traditional budgetary provisions in view of the fact that issues concerning agriculture are time bound and the rains are not going to wait.

“So there is need for the executive to submit the budget concerning agriculture different and distinct from the other budgets of other ministries so the legislature can quickly approve the budget concerning Ministry of Agriculture in tandem with the fact that agriculture is time bound and the rains cannot wait.

“Again in regards to the releases the releases should be speedy so the Ministry will hit the ground running for the purpose of executing their budget and Nigerian farmers are going to benefit from the service of the ministry.

“Again also there is need for the executive and legislature and executive to put hands on deck for the Public Procurement Act to allow the Ministry of Agriculture in particular not to comply with the Public Procurement Act that tend to constitute a clog in the wheel of fast-tracking delivery of services to farmers so that Nigerian farmers are going to enjoy the service of this Ministry.”