By: Ahmed Mohamed Kaikai (Voice of Masoro 90.5 FM)
Following the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament delocalized meeting in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has on Thursday, 25th August 2022 urged all governments in West Africa to increase yearly financial budget allocation for agricultural production.
Speaking to the Press, at the auditorium of Ceiba Hotel in Bissau, Senator Olujimi Biodun Christine, a Nigerian and member of ECOWAS Parliament said that food sufficiency is key to the growth and development of any country noting that most people in West Africa migrate to other countries as a result of deficiency of adequate food.
“If we have sufficient food in West Africa then migration will be minimized. Many people in the community do travel to other parts of the world due to lack of food.” She revealed.
Senator Christine further called on governments in West Africa to do their yearly budgets in other to increase agricultural production among member states.
“Budgets should be done to favor agricultural production especially mechanized farming. Physical work is not too ideal for agricultural work.” She explained.
Adding that the people and government of Guinea Bissau are trying their best to transform all their negatives into positives. “Climate change, flooding and deforestation are a challenge in West Africa. But they (Guinea Bissau) are making better use of what they have to address their problems.
“Their livestock is doing well and they have a peculiar climate.” She noted.
Joao Lona Tchedna, the Coastal Project Coordinator National Institute of Meteorology of Guinea Bissau disclosed that his country Guinea Bissau has not been doing well in the area of food production due to environmental challenges faced by his country. He, therefore, called on other countries in the region for external support.
“Despite the improvements made in many areas, the region should pay key attention to National and Private Sector Investment in agriculture, foreign private sector investment in agriculture, access to finance, and eradicating of hunger,” he lamented.
He observed that access to finance is a challenge affecting agricultural production.
“Increase in public agricultural expenditure as part of total public expenditure, provide a favorable environment that facilitates business activity to increase the relationship between national private sector investment and public investment in agriculture.
Mr. Tchedna urged West African governments to devise means of increasing the number of men and women involved in agriculture with access to financial services so that more youth will be involved in agricultural work.
