PLHA House Committee on Agriculture advocates proper funding for agricultural sector in the state

The Plateau State House of Assembly standing committee on agriculture and rural development has advocated for proper funding for the agricultural sector in the state. Chairman of the committee and member representing Jos South constituency Nyam Dareng stated this while on an over side function to the Plateau Agricultural Development Program and the Plateau Development Mechanization Services Corporation. Nyam Dareng while underscoring the critical role of the agricultural sector in propelling economic development of any nation said the house will assist PADP in achieving its mandate. Dareng stressed that the committee will ensure adequate monitoring for PADP to achieve its proposed program and activities in the fiscal year but he was quick to advise the management to be more innovative in improving its revenue profile.

The acting GM of PADP Philip Gunap while appreciating the visit said the main trust of PADP is to fashion out extension program that will assist Farmers in the State as well as provide rural development services. The GM identifies inadequate staff, sordid office accommodation, farm centers and broken down heavy machineries as some of the challenges confronting the organization. Coordinator, FADAMA III program Gideon Dandam and that of the potatoes value chain scheme Thaddeus Y, took time to explain to the committee the activities and challenges of the various unit with the World Bank assisted project. The committee were later conducted round PADP workshop for an on the spot assessment of the deplorable equipments and seek the House’s intervention.

The situation at the Plateau mechanization service corporation was sympathetic as lack of Government attention has seriously affected the operation of the corporation as explained by the GM Mr .G. Benedict, he noted that at the moment only 4 tractors are on ground across the 3 zones of the State and are barely functional adding that most of the tractors came without spear parts.

Chairman of the committee, Nyam Dareng urge the management of the corporation to be innovative in their operation promising that the committee will look in to their challenges. Hon Ezekiel Afon, Adamu Yahaya, and Peter Gyang who are members of the committee assure the Management of the organization visited of the House’s desire in transforming the agricultural landscape of the State.