Members of parliament on the budget committee has blocked a proposed Shs490bn budget requested by the Ministry of finance to eradicate poverty among households at the parish level across the country.

Appearing before the committee, Finance minister, Matia Kassaija said the money is needed to promote inclusive and sustainable growth through effective implementation of the parish model.

He said that this will enable the transformation of 68% of the households that are still engaged in subsistence agriculture to commercialisation and result in an increase in income for rural communities.

However, the request was not welcomed by most MPs who demanded for explanation on where the money is going to come from, how many households are in each parish and how they will access this money.

The finance minister and his team have been asked to return before the committee on Thursday this week over the same.