NFP unhappy with allocations made to some sectors

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says he is disappointed with the allocation made to agriculture, social welfare and fisheries in the 2020/2021 National Budget.

The Ministry of Agriculture is allocated $65.3 million in the 2020/2021 budget while in the last financial year, an allocation of $78.7 million was made.

The Fisheries Ministry received an allocation of $15.5 million in this year’s budget while the Ministry of Forestry was allocated $15.7 million in this year’s budget.

The Social Welfare Program under the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation was allocated $133 million in the 2019/2020 budget while allocation of $140.7 million has been made for this year.

The Ministry of Women altogether was allocated $127.7 million in the last budget and this year it has been increased to $159 million.

Prasad says the focus has remained on the tourism industry adding that many families would be needing assistance from social welfare given the level of unemployment as an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prasad adds that he would have preferred a bigger allocation for the Ministry of Health to ensure that our health services are up to par.

The Ministry of Health has been allocated $394.3 million in this budget.