The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Toyin Suarau has reiterated the resolve of the State government to increase the aggregate food supply of the State from less than 15% to 25% within the next four years through various projects and programmes.
Suarau disclosed this while giving account of achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture at a press briefing to commemorate the first year in office of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration in Lagos.
He noted that the aggregate food supply internally is less than 15% of total food consumption but added that the State is poised to increase this to 25% within the next four years.
The Commissioner stated that the State has continued to intensify efforts in the agricultural areas where it has comparative ecological and socio-economic advantages, despite its high industrialised status, population density and pressure on land for non-agricultural purposes.
These areas according to him include “fisheries, livestock and vegetable production as well as agro-processing with emphasis on value addition”.
He noted that as part of effort to increase food supply and ensure food security in Lagos State, the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture is vigorously implementing the State’s Strategic Food Security Plan with programmes and projects that have remarkable impact on food security in the State.
According to him, some of the programmes and projects intensified in the last one year include; collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States for the development of agricultural commodities like rice, wheat, ground-nut, onions, maize/sorghum and beef value chains; Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme (AGRIC-YES) Araga, Epe; and continued establishment of infrastructural facilities at Songhai-Avia, Badagry under the Agricultural Youth Empowerment Scheme.
He added that others are the Estates Initiatives on Poultry, Fish, Vegetable and Arable Crops; Coconut Development in Lagos State for tourism and poverty alleviation; Commercial Agriculture Development Project to increase productivity; National Fadama Development Project for poverty alleviation; Input Subsidy and organic farming promotion to increase farmers income; Farm Mechanization to reduce drudgery in Agriculture; and Agricultural Land Holdings and management to improve access by genuine farmers to land.
