On Tuesday, April 15th, the Gombe State chapter of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria expressed concern about the impact of post-harvest losses on the state’s food security.
During a news conference on the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget hosted by the Hope Foundation for the Lonely and the Gombe State Budget Committee, with help from ActionAid Nigeria, Airudia Mamman stated that it portends a significant setback.
She stated, “Post-harvest losses continue to impede Gombe State’s agricultural value chain, particularly for smallholder female farmers, due to inadequate storage, processing, and preservation facilities.”
“Despite a ₦10m allocation in the 2024 budget, no funds were released. Worryingly, the 2025 budget did not provide support for post-harvest losses.”
Mamman added, “We urge the government to restore and increase funding for community-based storage facilities, agro-processing support and equipment, farmer training on preservation and value addition, cold chain systems, market linkages, etc.”
“Reducing post-harvest losses is not only an economic necessity but also a critical component of improving food availability, increasing farmer incomes, and ensuring return on investment. It must remain a visible priority in the state’s agricultural development agenda,” she added.
Mamman noted that on-farm inputs boost agricultural productivity, profitability, and food security. In the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget, the fertiliser subsidy remains unchanged at ₦1 billion, the same as in 2024.
“However, the allocation for general agricultural inputs has been reduced from ₦30 million in 2024 to ₦25 million in 2025, despite rising input costs and growing demand among smallholder farmers.
“This reduction signals a weakening commitment to input support, especially when smallholder farmers, particularly women, need greater access to affordable, quality inputs to sustain their yields.
“We call on the Gombe State Government to restore and increase the allocation for agricultural inputs and ensure transparent distribution of subsidised fertilisers and inputs at affordable prices. Furthermore, the fertiliser subsidy should incorporate organic fertilisers to promote sustainable soil health and climate-resilient practices.”
While harping on the need to encourage women and youth in agriculture, Mamman described it as central to agricultural production in Gombe State, especially at the community level, where they play a critical role in food production and household income generation.
She added, “It is crucial that the state government maintains dedicated budget lines for their empowerment and ensures the timely and full release of allocated funds.
“In the 2025 Agriculture Budget, ₦30m was allocated to Smallholder Women Farmers, marking a 40 per cent reduction from ₦50m in 2024 and a 57 per cent drop from ₦70m in 2023. This downward trend is concerning given the rising need for support in inputs, mechanisation, credit, and market access.
“The Youth in Agriculture budget remains stagnant at ₦20m for 2025, the same as previous years, with no record of fund release or implementation to date. This lack of progress risks alienating young people from the sector, despite their importance to innovation and food security.”
HFL CEO Sarah Yapwa revealed that the engagement is a significant turning point in our group’s work under the Scaling Up Public Investment in Agriculture (SUPIA) project. This project aims to ensure that public investments in agriculture are not only increased but also inclusive, equitable, and effective.
Yapwa said, “As you all know, agriculture remains a vital sector in Gombe State. It is the bedrock of livelihoods for thousands of smallholder women and youth and a major driver of food security, economic resilience, and poverty reduction.
“Yet, year after year, budgetary allocations to the sector have fallen short of national expectations and international commitments, such as the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, which mandate that at least 10 per cent of public expenditure be committed to agriculture.
“Our analysis of the 2025 Gombe State Agriculture Budget reveals mixed outcomes. While we commend the state government for increased allocations to extension logistics and the consistency of fertiliser subsidies, we are equally concerned about the reduction in funding for key strategic areas, particularly those that directly benefit smallholder women farmers, youth engagement, climate resilience, post-harvest support, and research and development.”
Source: Punch
Image Credit: FreePik
