The Delta House of Assembly has called for deeper reforms that would enhance food production and safeguard rural livelihoods across the state.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, led by the Chief Whip, Mr Perkins Umukoro, made the call during a budget defence session with the State ministry of Agriculture in Asaba.
The committee which scrutinised the ministry’s spending plans, demanded for a more assertive approach to tackling food insecurity in the state.
The committee chairman, emphasised that the new fiscal year must mark a turning point in the government’s agricultural agenda.
Umukoro reminded the ministry that the challenges confronting farmers from low yields to security threats required innovative strategies and consistent implementation.
He maintained that the Assembly expects to see clear improvements when compared with the outcomes delivered in 2025.
Umukoro expressed readiness for stronger between the Assembly and the committee.
He assured the ministry that lawmakers would support programmes that directly improve food output, strengthen rural employment, and boost the state’s economy.
The committee members Dr Isaac Anwuzia, Mr Augustine Uroye, and Mr Alfred Martin, echoed this sentiment, urging the ministry to translate budgetary allocations into measurable results.
The lawmakers expressing renewed determination to ensure that the state’s agricultural spending translates into meaningful benefits for citizens, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on farming.
On his his part, Commissioner, Mr Val Areyenk assured the legislators that the ministry’s 2026 blueprint was designed to confront both longstanding and emerging agricultural challenges.
He highlighted the government’s intention to reposition livestock management through the adoption of modern ranching models, inspired by insights from a recent study tour to Brazil.
The commissioner noted that such a transition is expected to ease tensions between farmers and herders, increase the efficiency of cattle production, and create a more stable agricultural environment.
He also revealed that improved security systems within farming communities were being prioritised, as the safety of farmers and their assets remained central to revitalising the sector.
Areyenka projected that with adequate funding and sustained collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government, the State could witness an unprecedented leap in agricultural productivity in 2026.
