News in brief:
– The Anambra State Government allocated ₦2 billion (0.33% of the budget) to agriculture, focusing on tree seedlings distribution.
– Governor Soludo plans to distribute over 10 million seedlings to farming households over the next six years, while also enhancing infrastructure.
The Anambra State Government allocated ₦2 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture from the ₦606.99 billion budgetary allocation, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Information. This meagre 0.33% funding is expected to cover the costs of the state’s Palm and Coconut Revolution and “Farm-to-Feed” Programmes.
In his speech, while presenting the budget plans to the Anambra State House of Assembly, Governor Chukwuma Soludo explained that his administration plans to distribute over one million palm and coconut seedlings to 130,000 farming households in 2025.
This initiative expands on efforts to revive staple crops at risk of extinction. The breakdown includes 200,000 Ukwa seedlings, 50,000 Akilu seedlings, 50,000 Oji Igbo seedlings, and 40,000 pawpaw seedlings.
Over the next six years, Soludo hopes to distribute 10 million economically beneficial trees to communities and households, aiming to sustainably reduce poverty and revolutionize the agro-allied industry. Plans also include distributing ten or more seedlings (coconut, palm, ukwa, pawpaw, soursop, and others) to over 100,000 households.
Despite these efforts, the budget reflects little recognition of agriculture as a crucial component of the state’s “economic transformation” agenda.
However, the Governor highlighted plans to enhance the ease of doing business and provide grants for micro-businesses across 326 wards in the state. These initiatives could indirectly benefit agribusinesses and boost food production.
Additionally, infrastructure developments like the 540 kilometres of roads under construction, the Ekwulobia flyover, bus terminals, and dualisation projects could address major challenges facing the agricultural sector and improve its prospects.
The Soludo-led administration is also working on a link bridge at Aroma, connecting two parts of Awka, developing a rail transport master plan, and investing in mass transit systems such as buses, jetties, and boats.
Rural communities, which constitute most of the farming households in the state, are promised improved power access in the coming year, thanks to a framework for private sector investment in the Anambra Electricity Market. Improved access to clean water is also part of the administration’s plan.
