Effects of Budgetary Processes in Enhancing Agricultural Development in Ebonyi State

Abstract

Agricultural development is important and strategic to economic and national development of Nigerian. Agriculture employs greater number of rural population; yet, it has been neglected in Ebonyi State, with little or no financial attention. Poor attention to agriculture has affected its mandates of solving food insecurity, youth unemployment, poverty, rural-urban migration, etc.  Available statistics show that from 2011 to 2021, government budgets to the agricultural sector remained poor in relation to Maputo declaration, that 10% annual budgets be set aside for agricultural production. This problem becomes more worrisome as the meagre allocations were not completely released. The general objective of this study is to determine the effects of budgetary process in enhancing agricultural development in Ebonyi State. The paper was built on modernization theory to clearly show that agricultural development in Ebonyi State could be developed through increased budgetary allocations in line with Maputo declaration. Data were collected by administering 399 questionnaires to respondents, and interview of 6 key-informants, using in-depth interview method. Data from questionnaire were analysed using percentages and frequencies, while data from in-depth interview were analysed using narrative technique. Findings showed that allocation of 10% of annual budget enhances agricultural development in Ebonyi State; and reduction in food insecurity, poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and rural-urban migration are the effects of budgetary process on agricultural development in Ebonyi State. It was recommended, that Ebonyi State House of Assembly should increase agriculture budgetary allocations to 10%, to mitigate negative effects of inadequate budgetary process on agricultural development.