The Lagos State Government has flagged off the distribution of agric inputs and production assets to fishing and farming clusters and communities in the state.
During the flag off ceremony, held at the Ikorodu Local Council Secretariat, Ikorodu, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, said the attainment of food security is a major policy thrust of this administration, given its relevance in promoting the health and well-being of citizens and the achievement of the THEMES Agenda.
She said in line with the target, the ministry 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 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 to financial services and markets.
“One of the challenges confronting agriculture in the state is the aging farmer and fishermen population and most youths who make up about 60 per cent of the state’s population are not interested in agriculture as a profession because of drudgery in the system.
“It is in 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 mechanisation 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,” she said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture (Rice Mill Initiative), Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the programme started in 2014 and so far, a total of 16,466 farmers, fishermen, agro-processors, butchers and marketers have benefitted from its implementation with corresponding impact on agricultural productivity in the state.
He said this year’s edition, which is implemented on a communal basis, is tailored to addressing the needs expressed by fisher folks and farmers in fishing and farming clusters/communities across the 57 Councils, to aid food production, processing and preservation towards enhanced livelihood for the fisher folks and farmers.
