SWOFON decries impact of herder-farmer conflict
Chima Azubuike
The Gombe State chapter of Small scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), has decried increasing lack of security in farmlands especially herder-farmer conflict, stressing that the state will be exposed to food shortage.
SWOFON also frowned at the lack of release since 2019, adding that funding agricultural mechanisation has direct impact on food security.
The group made this disclosure on Tuesday during a one-day public hearing, organised by Public Financing for Agriculture, with collaboration from Hope Foundation for the Lonely and ActionAid Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Chairman, Budget Committee Atiku Yahaya, noted that the summit is geared towards sharing experiences on best practices in order to build linkage towards achieving Scaling up Public Investments in Agriculture (SUPIA).
According to the committee, with the challenges of herder-farmer clashes, lack of release, imminent food scarcity is inevitable in the state.
Yahaya said, “The forum observed a marginal increase in agricultural budget allocations in the State between 2012 and 2021. However, these allocations still fall below the Maputo/Malabo declaration benchmark of 10 percent, as that of 2021 budget on Agriculture is 3.3 percent but the 2022 proposed fiscal budget has just 1.8 percent of the overall budget for Agriculture in Gombe State.
“Regrettably, non-release of budgeted funds especially to SWOFON and the sector continues to impede the capacity of Government to drive socio-economic development including food security within the policy thrust of the diversification with the focus on Small-scale women farmers of the economy towards agriculture.
“Making farms safe and funding agricultural mechanisation will create not only more food but also jobs to engage restless youth that have turned to crime for a living. Without solving food-farm security issues, we cannot solve the state’s security issues. With rising hunger and social insecurity as well as farmer-herder conflict, the peace of Gombe State will continue to be threatened. Farms are being abandoned due to social security threats and natural disasters. The government should deliberately strengthen security mechanisms and systems to mitigate farmer-herder conflict.”
The forum also harped the need for consistent public investment in Agriculture, while urging Ministries Departments and Agencies to give priority to farming seasons.
“Public Investment in Agriculture should be scaled-up in the specific areas of extension services, access to credit, women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, appropriate labour saving technologies, inputs, post-harvest losses reduction supports (processing facilities, storage facilities, trainings, market access, etc.) Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA)/Agroecology, research and development, monitoring and evaluation, as well as coordination.
“Most Agricultural activities are seasonal and is determined by climatic conditions. Fund releases should consider and give priority to seasonal projects (dry season farming). The State Government may need to legislate on warehousing funds to the Agricultural sector to mitigate the effect of untimely release of funds,” the forum added.
