By our reporter
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Jigawa State has called on the state government to urgently distribute agricultural equipment and motorcycles procured for farmers and extension workers, warning that prolonged delays could undermine efforts to boost food production and agricultural development.
The OGP, while commending Governor Umar Namadi’s administration for its substantial investments in agriculture, expressed concern that many of the procured assets have remained unused despite huge public expenditure on the sector.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the OGP Co-Chair and Non-State Actors Representative, Isah Mustapha, the group acknowledged the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture through increased budgetary allocations, institutional reforms and strategic interventions.
According to the statement, the state government has increased funding to agriculture from less than five per cent to between 10 and 12 per cent of the annual budget, while also establishing additional ministries and agencies dedicated to agriculture and livestock development.
The OGP further praised the government for undertaking what it described as the largest procurement of agricultural machinery and equipment in the state in nearly two decades, alongside the establishment of mechanisation centres across the 30 state constituencies.
However, the group noted that despite the approval and procurement of the assets, their distribution to intended beneficiaries has yet to commence.
“Given that over 90 per cent of the state’s population depends on agriculture either directly or indirectly, farmers had high expectations of benefiting from these interventions. Unfortunately, much of the equipment remains exposed to harsh weather conditions under the sun and rain,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that continued delays could affect the functionality and lifespan of the equipment, while farmers continue to grapple with rising production costs and expensive agricultural inputs.
The OGP stressed that access to mechanised farming equipment would significantly improve productivity, lower operational costs and strengthen food security across the state.
The group also commended the government’s recruitment of more than 900 agricultural extension agents under the J-AGROG programme, describing it as one of the most significant investments in agricultural extension services in the state’s history.
It, however, expressed concern that motorcycles purchased to facilitate the movement of the extension workers have remained undistributed for almost a year.
According to the statement, the prolonged storage of the motorcycles has affected the operational efficiency of the extension programme and could result in avoidable maintenance costs before deployment.
“There are concerns that some of the motorcycles may require repairs before they are eventually distributed due to prolonged exposure and inactivity,” the statement added.
The OGP therefore urged the state government to expedite the distribution of both the agricultural equipment and motorcycles to ensure that the investments translate into tangible benefits for farmers and rural communities.
It maintained that the immediate deployment of the assets would enhance agricultural productivity, improve extension service delivery and contribute to the state’s broader economic development goals.
“The people of Jigawa State, particularly farming communities, stand to benefit immensely from the immediate deployment of these critical assets. We urge the government to act with urgency in the interest of farmers, food security and sustainable agricultural development,” the statement said.
