By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Lagos State Government reaffirms its dedication to implementing the five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Road Map in a resolute move towards achieving a 40% food self-sufficiency target by 2025. The commitment was reiterated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, during the “Lagos Food Systems Stakeholders’ Breakfast Meeting” held in Lagos on Thursday.
Launched in 2021 by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the roadmap focuses on increasing food production in the state. According to Olusanya, key elements of the 2023-2025 roadmap include funding for Agric Service providers, enhanced rice paddy production, land bank collaboration with sister states, and various innovative programs like Agri-thon, Lagos Cares, and Lagos Agric Scholars Programme.
One notable initiative is the collaboration with sister states like Niger and Kebbi on land bank collaboration to boost rice paddy production, aligning with the growing consumption of rice in Lagos. Olusanya detailed an array of projects, including the establishment of Lagos Agrinnovation Clusters, Food Value Chains’ Destination, and the Lagos Central Food Security System.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, revealed a bold plan to invest N50 billion in producing 100,000 tonnes of rice paddy in 2024. He highlighted the success of the Imota Rice mill, which produced 50,000 tonnes in 2023, and ongoing negotiations with other states to secure farmers for large-scale paddy purchases.
Dr Fashola emphasized the need for financial backing, considering the increased cost of paddy, which rose from N200,000 to N510,000 per ton. He stated, “In other words, if we are going to do 100,000 tonnes per paddy, we will need N50 billion.”
The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Olotu, commended the ministry’s efforts and urged stakeholders to enhance agricultural production in 2024. Olotu emphasized the shared goal of developing resilient and efficient agricultural systems, calling on agro stakeholders to collectively shape the food system and contribute to the state’s agricultural development.
The Head of Civil Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, announced the reintroduction of the “Operation Feed the Nation” initiative, encouraging civil servants to actively participate in agriculture. Agoro underscored the potential for civil servants to engage in agricultural activities, aligning with the state’s broader vision for food security and self-sufficiency.