By Asile Emmanuel, Jos
Strong indication emerges that the Federal Government may be frustrated by some state governments in the implementation of its core policy directions on the state of the nation’s economy.
Startling revelations obtained through investigation on the level of preparedness of the Plateau State government to comply with the Federal Government’s desire to re-position agriculture shows that there is much left to be desired.
The shocking news is that since the assumption of office by the Governor Lalong led administration, the Ministry of agriculture in Plateau state which has enjoyed a full year budget claims has no blueprint or policy direction for the ministry.
Stakeholders in the sector have therefore called for the urgent need for the state and federal governments through the Minister of Agriculture to carry out a specific survey for proper development of the sector.
Speaking with The Dream Daily in her office, Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Linda Hennang Barau, said the ministry lacked proper information on the challenges facing it.
She said what the ministry has been battling with all this while was to ascertain the number of farmers in the state before taking any step that would be beneficial to the ministry.
She however declined comments on the recent Federal Government pronouncement ordering the release of some metric tonnes of grains from the national reserve as intervention mechanisms to the current food crises in the country.
Her words: “I cannot say anything now; I have no blueprint now. Even if I have it. it is for the ministry and not for the public. And if you are aware I am just four months in office and we are too busy and our concern is to know our farmers first. When we are done with that, we will know the next step”.
It was also gathered that the Agriculture Services centres (ASTC) established by former Governor Jonah Jang have now been reduced to shadows of themselves, thereby compelling workers into idleness.
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