From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Open Government Partnership (OGP), Jigawa State, has called on State government to expedite the distribution of the procured Agricultural Equipment and motorcycles to the intended beneficiaries.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Co-Chair, Open Government Partnership (OGP), Jigawa State Non-State Actors (NSA) Comrade Isah Mustapha and made it available to news men.
“Inight of the foregoing, the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Jigawa State, calls on the Jigawa State Government to expedite the distribution of the procured agricultural equipment and motorcycles to their intended beneficiaries. Doing so will ensure that the substantial public investment already made translates into tangible benefits for farmers, promotes agricultural productivity, and contributes to the state’s broader economic development objectives”.
According to the statement, Over the past few years, the state government has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to agriculture by increasing budgetary allocation to the sector from less than five percent to between ten and twelve percent of the total state budget. This commitment was further reinforced through the establishment of an additional ministry and agency dedicated to agriculture and livestock development, reflecting the government’s recognition of the sector’s critical role in the state’s economy.
The statement maintained that, the state also made history through the mass procurement of agricultural assets and equipment on a scale not witnessed in the last seventeen years. This laudable initiative was complemented by the establishment of mechanization centres across the thirty state constituencies, creating a foundation for increased access to modern farming technologies.
“When the Jigawa State Executive Council approved the procurement of these agricultural assets, citizens welcomed the decision with enthusiasm. Given that over 90 percent of the state’s population is engaged in agriculture either directly or indirectly, many farmers anticipated benefiting from the intervention. Unfortunately, despite the huge investment and the expectations generated, the distribution of these assets has yet to commence, leaving much of the equipment exposed to harsh weather conditions under the sun and rain.
“While the reasons for the delay may be administrative or procedural, urgent action must be taken to ensure the timely deployment of these agricultural implements. At a time when farmers are grappling with rising production costs and increasing prices of agricultural inputs, access to mechanized equipment can significantly improve productivity, reduce operational costs, and strengthen food production across the state”.
The statement added that, the government’s foresight in recruiting a large number of agricultural extension personnel under the J-AGROG programme deserves commendation. The recruitment of over 900 extension agents represents one of the most significant investments in agricultural extension services in the state’s history.
Effective extension services remain essential for disseminating modern farming techniques, improving yields, and strengthening farmer support systems.
“However, it is concerning that the motorcycles procured for these extension agents have remained undistributed for almost a year. The prolonged storage of these vehicles has negatively affected the operational effectiveness of the extension programme. There are also concerns that some of the motorcycles may require repairs before deployment due to prolonged exposure and inactivity, thereby imposing avoidable additional costs on public resources.
“people of Jigawa State, particularly the farming communities, stand to benefit immensely from the immediate deployment of these critical assets. We therefore urge the government to act with urgency in the interest of farmers, food security, and sustainable agricultural development”, the statement said.
The statement then, commended the Jigawa State Government for its remarkable commitment to transforming the agricultural sector through increased investment, institutional reforms, and strategic interventions aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and food security.
