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The Association of
Small-Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSPIN) has canvassed for 10
percent budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector by governments
at all levels.

Mabinuori Adeleke,
the national vice president of the association in the south-west zone,
made the call on Tuesday, in Ijebu-Ode, in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr. Adeleke said
that the current 3.5 percent of budgetary allocation to the sector was
not adequate to engender sustainable development. He said that
increased budgetary allocation to the sector would assist farmers to
boost food production and help reduce unemployment.

“There is nowhere
in the world that you have food sufficiency and poverty eradication
without government playing adequate role in agricultural development.
Agriculture is very important to the survival of any nation because of
its many opportunities.

“If government
could increase its investment in agriculture, there would be an
increase in food production and this will help to reduce unemployment,”
he added.