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Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to investing in the younger population to develop the Agriculture ecosystem.
The State believes youths involvement in Agric space will allow the State to attain food security, enhance quality productions and boost the economy.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the remark during the distribution of agricultural Inputs and production assets for fishing and farming communities in Eti-Osa, Epe, Lagos Island and Ibeju Lekki Local Government areas of the State.
Horticulture production
The activation support Programme is in continuation of the empowerment for fish, poultry production and processing, cold storage solutions and horticulture production in the twenty Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor said that the attainment of food security is a major policy thrust of his administration given its relevance in promoting the health and well-being of citizens.
He said agriculture cannot be left alone to the aged population for the State to achieve its THEMES Agenda, especially the 4th Pillar of Making Lagos a 21st Century economy.
Numerous entrepreneurs
He therefore urged youths to partner with the State Government as it has numerous entrepreneur and empowerment programmes for them that can change their lives.
One of the challenges confronting agriculture in the State is an aging farmer and fishermen population and most youths who make up about 60% of the State’s population are not interested in agriculture as a profession because of drudgery in the System.”
“it is the wake of this fact, that the Ministry partnered with innovative companies to introduce technology in agriculture, especially the upstream sector. This is evidenced by the recently launched Tractor-on-the-Go project which is a tractor hailing service designed to facilitate easy and affordable access to mechanization services through applications installed in mobile phones and integrated agricultural projects implemented in the state secondary schools tagged Lagos Agric Scholars Programme to stimulate the interest of school children in agriculture.”
“Other youth-centered efforts include the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme with the goal of training 15,000 youths with a passion for agriculture of which 3,000 has been successfully trained and plans are being put in place to train an additional 1,200 youth this year. Aside from these, this Administration has trained 51,476 and empowered 25,691
women and youth in different agricultural value chains, such as the Cage and Pen Culture, Poultry, Rice Production, Snailery, Bee Keeping, Coconut Arts and Craft amongst others, using various government platforms” he said
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his special adviser on Rice initiative, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola explained that the State has developed a five-Year Agricultural and Food System Roadmap to galvanise public, private, and donor agency efforts in the development of agriculture in the State’s economy.
The Roadmap according to him also provides solutions for the wholesomeness of food items, reduction in post-harvest losses, and improving linkages with industry with respect to backward integration as well as access fo financial services and markets.
He added that the 2022 Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation and Farmers’ Support Programme according to him is designed to cater for over 20,000 fisherfolks and farmers while budgetary provision has been made to accommodate a larger number of Value Chain Actors in the 2023 edition of the programme.
The Chairman Eti-Osa Local Government Mr Saheed Adesegun applauded the state governor for initiating the support Programme aimed at uplifting the farmers in the localities, thereby improving the food base of the State.
The Chairman who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Sulaimon Adekanmbi stressed that the programme is a pointer to the commitment of the State Government to agricultural sector and development of the State economy.
He said the programme is a clear demonstration of Mr Governor’s determination to improve the standard of living of the farming community in Lagos State, as he appreciates the available tools and the vision to take the State to another pedestal.
According to the State, about 15 out of 20 Local Government areas have been captured and received inputs such as Smoking Kiln, Deep Freezer, Grinding machines among others and the remaining 5 Local Government areas would be covered in few days.