Constraints on Budgetary Process and efforts of Ebonyi State Government at Agricultural Development

Abstract

The idea of agricultural development evolved over the years as man sort to sustain life and expand farm production for sustenance and better economic earning. Therefore, agricultural development is central and strategic to economic and national development of Nigeria. Despite the strategic contribution of agriculture to Nigerian economy and national development, agriculture has remained with daunting challenges of poor government and budgetary attention. The general objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the efforts and constraints of budgetary process on agricultural development in Ebonyi State. The paper was anchored on structural-functionalism theory, to understand the place of institutions of government in spurring agricultural development in Ebonyi State. Data for the study were collected from questionnaire, in-depth interview from a sample of 399, while secondary data were collected from documents of Ebonyi State government on budgetary allocations to agricultural sector. Findings revealed that Ebonyi State government had made conscious efforts at using budgetary process for agricultural development. However, poor fund allocations, fund releases, legislative oversights, and corruption are constraints on budgetary process in enhancing agricultural development in Ebonyi State. It was recommended, among other things, that Ebonyi State government should invest more in agricultural mechanization through adequate budget releases for agricultural development.