The Lagos State government has appealed to residents to increase their involvement in subsistence farming towards self-sufficiency, job creation, and food security.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya made the appeal 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.
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, 351 litres of Agro chemical and 25 water Tanks.
Olusanya revealed that the State Government is optimistic about a reduction in the prices of food items and other consumables within the shortest period following the distribution of farm inputs to all categories of farmers and agro-processors across the State.
She disclosed that about 10,000 farmers that cut across Fishermen, Aquaculture, Poultry, Piggery, and Vegetable farmers benefited from the 4th cycle distribution of farm inputs towards reducing food prices when the produce is sold in the market.
The Commisioner noted that the programme was a collaboration between the Federal, State Governments and the World Bank under the COVID-19 Action Recovery Scheme.
According to her, the farmers are expected to supply produce from their farms for sale in return for the 25% discount at the Sunday Market in the state.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Audu and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture & Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious deployment of the farm inputs.
On his part, Mr. Jonathan Obayemi, who is the State Project Coordinator, Lagos CARES Result Area 2, thanked the Governor for the prompt approval of the farm inputs and supplements.
He said that in the last three cycles, the state demonstrated transparency and inclusiveness in the distribution of the farm inputs, applauding the decision of the Nigeria Governors Forum to scale up the programme.
According to him, 22,893 individuals have benefited directly from the FADAMA scheme, 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.
On his part, the Head of the State Coordinating CARES Unit, Mr. Basit Baruwa assured that the farm inputs distributed will address the recent outcry of hunger in the land.
He commended the Lagos State Government’s determination to tackle the rising cost of food items by encouraging more residents to embrace farming.
The Representative of Abibatu Mogaji Market Orile-Agege LCDA, Tosin Oyetunde described the Lagos State Governor as God sent to assist farmers in the state. She was delighted that farmers in the area can now reinvest money made from produce to expand their business.
Josephine Iliya, a farmer from Ikeja Military Cantonment, who thanked the state through FADAMA for their positive intervention, expressed surprise with the farm inputs support, which was distributed free of charge.
The Baale of Ofin Community in Ikorodu, Seyi Alimi disclosed that fish farming had received a boost through the bridge constructed with support from the project.
Also, giving her testimony, Taiwo Semako Godomu from Halleluyah Poultry Group in Badagry said the intervention from FADAMA was timely and helpful.
She said that they now produce five crates of Eggs daily from the grown-up Chicken received from FADAMA.
