SEYI TAIWO-OGUNTUASE
The Lagos state government has appealed to residents of the state to increase their involvement in subsistence farming to achieve self-sufficiency, create jobs and ensure food security.
Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos state Commissioner for Agriculture made the call while speaking at the official flag-off and symbolic presentation of Agricultural Inputs and Productive Assets to the 4th cycle beneficiaries at Oko-Oba area of Agege.
She said that the state is optimistic of reduction in the prices of food items and other consumables within the shortest period of time following the distribution of farm inputs to all categories of farmers and agro-processors across the State.
Olusanya, noted that about 10,000 farmers that cut across Fishermen, Aquaculture, Poultry, Piggery, and Vegetable farmers benefited from the 4th cycle distribution of farm inputs.
She said that the programme was done in collaboration with the Federal, State Government, and the World Bank under the COVID-19 Action Recovery Scheme, stressing that the exercise was done to force down the prices of food when the produce are sold in the market.
According to her, the farmers are expected to supply produce from their farms for sale at the return of 25 per cent discount at the Sunday Market in the state.
Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems and Emmanuel Audu, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious deployment of the farm inputs.
Jonathan Obayemi, the State Project Coordinator, Lagos CARES Result Area 2, in his remarks appreciated the Governor for the prompt approval of the farm inputs and supplements, stating that in the last three cycles, the state demonstrated transparency and inclusiveness in the distribution of the farm inputs.
He also applauded the decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum in scaling up the programme.
He said that 22,893 individuals have benefitted directly from the FADAMA scheme while urging them to be transparent with the items as the World Bank officials will come for independent verification of what was given to the beneficiaries.
Obayemi, noted that those supported directly contributed about N12billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.
On his part, Basit Baruwa, the Head of the State Coordinating CARES Unit, assured that the farm inputs distributed will address the recent outcry of hunger in the land.
He was of the view that the Lagos State Government is determined to tackle the rising cost of food items by encouraging more residents to embrace farming.
Some of the beneficiaries appreciated the government for the gesture stressing that they will make judicious use of the items given to them.
Tosin Oyetunde, a representative from the Abibatu Mogaji Market Orile-Agege LCDA, said that she was delighted that farmers in the area can now reinvest money made from their produce to expand their business.
She described the Lagos State Governor as God sent, who always has the interest of farmers in the state at heart.
Josephine Iliya, a farmer from Ikeja Military Cantonment appreciated the state government through FADAMA for their positive intervention, expressed surprise with the farm inputs support, which was distributed to farmers free of charge.
Seyi Alimi, the Baale of Ofin community in Ikorodu, disclosed that fish farming had received a boost through the bridge constructed with support from the project.
Taiwo Godomu, Halleluyah Poultry Group in Badagry also commended the timely intervention of the programme, stressing that it would in no small measure boost their productivity.
She said that they now produce five crates of eggs daily from the grown-up chicken received from the programme.
Some of the farm inputs distributed to farmers include; 32,750 fish juvenile, 4,740 bags of poultry feeds, 61,500 day old chick, 1,004 bags of Fertilisers, 596 kilos of Vegetable seed, 2,198 bundles of fishing nets, 72 canoes, 351litres of Agro chemical and 25 water tanks.
