The Lagos State Government is optimistic about a reduction in the prices of food items and other consumables in the near future, following the massive distribution of farm inputs to various categories of farmers across the metropolis.
To this end, the state government has also appealed to residents to increase their involvement in subsistence farming to promote self-sufficiency, job creation, and food security.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, expressed this optimism at the official flag-off and symbolic presentation of Agricultural Inputs and Productive Assets to the 4th cycle beneficiaries at the Oko-Oba area of Agege.
She disclosed that about 10,000 farmers, including Fishermen, Aquaculture, Poultry, Piggery, and Vegetable farmers, benefited from the 4th cycle distribution of farm inputs.
These inputs are expected to drive down food prices when the produce reaches the market.
Abisola Olusanya noted that the programme is a collaboration between the Federal and 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 at the Sunday Market in the state, where items are sold at a 25% discount.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Audu, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, urged the beneficiaries to ensure the judicious use of the farm inputs.
Mr. Jonathan Obayemi, the state project coordinator for Lagos CARES Result Area 2, thanked the Governor for the prompt approval of the farm inputs and supplements.
He noted that in the last three cycles, the state has demonstrated transparency and inclusiveness in the distribution of farm inputs, applauding the decision of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to scale up the program.
He added that 22,893 individuals have directly benefited from the FADAMA scheme and urged them to be transparent with the items, as World Bank officials will conduct independent verification of the distributed items.
Mr. Obayemi noted that those directly supported generated about ₦12 million, according to independent verification.
The Head of the State Coordinating CARES Unit, Mr. Basit Baruwa, assured that the farm inputs distributed will address the recent outcry over hunger in the land.
He expressed confidence that the Lagos State Government is determined to tackle the rising cost of food items by encouraging more residents to embrace farming.
The Representative of Abibatu Mogaji Market in 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 their produce to expand their businesses.
Josephine Iliya, a farmer from Ikeja Military Cantonment, thanked the state through FADAMA for their positive intervention, expressing surprise that the farm inputs were distributed free of charge.
The Baale of Ofin community in Ikorodu, Seyi Alimi, disclosed that fish farming had received a boost through a bridge constructed with support from FADAMA.
Also giving her testimony, Taiwo Semako Godomu from Halleluyah Poultry Group in Badagry said the intervention from FADAMA was timely and helpful.
She noted that they now produce five crates of eggs daily from the grown-up chickens received from FADAMA.
Some of the farm inputs distributed to farmers include 32,750 fish juveniles, 4,740 bags of poultry feed, 61,500 day-old chicks, 1,004 bags of fertilizer, 596 kilograms of vegetable seeds, 2,198 bundles of fishing nets, 72 canoes, 351 liters of agrochemicals, and 25 water tanks.
