Group canvasses gender consideration in Agric budgeting

Chinwe Ugele, Umuahia

In furthering its advocacy for a five percent (5%) increase in the State Agricultural budgetary allocation in the south east; a Palladium implemented USAID, Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, a non – governmental organisation, CARA Development Foundation has emphasised the need for a gender responsive budgeting.

At a one day capacity building organised by the Agric Budget Plus Cluster comprising of CARA Development Foundation (Anchor Organization) Vicar Hope Foundation (Lead organization in Abia), and CAD consulting (an IT specialist firm), participants agree that it is important to understand the genders that will benefit from the increase that is being advocated for.

It is postulated that drafting a budget for the state as an annual activity follows a process which include: budget preparation, budget approval by the legislature, budget signing by the governor, budget implementation and finally monitoring and evaluation as well as oversight.

There are key areas in Agriculture noted as critical to the development of the sector. Participants at the one day seminar highlighted the areas of concentration in the budget preparation which will include mechanisation of farming, additional inputs, processing and storage, etc

They are of the opinion that these areas will attract better attention for the increment being asked for.

With the theme: Gender responsive participatory budgeting in Agriculture “Increase Agric budget to 5%,” the aim is to take into account the various needs of the diverse population by using the best method available to respond to the differences of men and women, as explained by Patrick Ugwuoti the anchor person for CARA foundation.

Participants at the programme funded by USAID were drawn from the farmers association, government, women group, media, PWD and CSOs.