The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting food production and strengthening food security, with plans to increase the state’s contribution to food consumed by its over 20 million residents from the current 25 per cent to 50 per cent in the coming years.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this at the opening of a three day capacity building workshop on poultry production and management, organised under the “Chicks to Plate” project at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA), Oko Oba, Agege.
The programme is being organised by LSADA in collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) to strengthen the poultry value chain, improve food security and empower farmers across the state.
Olusanya, in a message delivered by the Director of Agribusiness, Mrs. Aramide Gansallo, said the training was another demonstration of the state government’s commitment to promoting agriculture, strengthening food security and empowering farmers.
According to her, the workshop aligns with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus Development Agenda and the government’s food security objectives, adding that LSADA remained committed to equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills required to enhance productivity, improve value chains and strengthen agricultural enterprises.
The Commissioner noted that the focus on poultry production was timely, as the sector offered farmers a pathway to economic empowerment while contributing to the availability of affordable animal protein.
She said the intervention would improve production efficiency and egg quality while reducing the production constraints faced by smallholder farmers.
Also speaking at the flag off ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr. Emmanuel Audu, represented by Mrs. Bukola Idowu, said the initiative demonstrated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to agricultural transformation, food security, economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood development.
Audu described the programme as another milestone in the eight year partnership between LSADA and BATNF, which began in 2018 with the “Fingerlings to Fork” project.
According to him, the aquaculture focused initiative trained 1,436 fish farmers between 2018 and 2025, equipping them with skills in fish hatchery production, processing, packaging, value addition, export opportunities and farm management.
He said 202 farmers were trained in 2018, 196 in 2019, 203 in 2020, 214 in 2021, 210 in 2023, 207 in 2024 and 204 in 2025.
Beyond training, Audu said the partnership had provided beneficiaries with modern production equipment to enhance their businesses.
He disclosed that 10 fish smoking kilns with a capacity of 250kg each were presented to 10 groups of fish processors, while 125 individual fish processors received 50kg capacity smoking kilns.
In addition, 40 collapsible tarpaulin fish ponds measuring 4ft by 4ft by 3ft were provided to 40 grow out fish farmers across the state.
He explained that the smoking kilns were equipped with oil extraction technology and dual heat sources using gas and charcoal, adding that the innovation had promoted cleaner and more efficient fish processing, reduced post harvest losses and improved the income earning potential of beneficiaries.
Audu said the success recorded under the “Fingerlings to Fork” project informed the decision to expand the partnership into poultry production through the “Chicks to Plate” initiative.
He described the move as timely, noting that poultry production remained one of the fastest ways to increase the availability of affordable animal protein while creating jobs and improving household incomes.
He said the sector also offered significant opportunities for youth engagement, women empowerment and entrepreneurship.
“Under this initiative, 200 prospective and practising poultry farmers drawn from across Lagos State will receive intensive practical training on modern poultry production and management, covering both broiler and layer enterprises,” he said.
Audu added that 40 layer production farmers would be selected from the 200 participants for additional empowerment support to enhance their enterprises.
He said the beneficiaries were selected from LSADA’s farmers’ database to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and continuity in the state’s agricultural development programmes.
The Permanent Secretary noted that Nigeria’s demand for poultry products continued to exceed domestic production, while Lagos, with its rapidly growing population, accounted for a significant proportion of poultry consumption.
He said the situation presented an opportunity to increase local production, reduce dependence on imported poultry products, strengthen food security and stimulate economic growth.
Audu added that equipping farmers with modern production techniques, improved management practices, effective biosecurity measures and agribusiness skills would enhance productivity, improve product quality, create sustainable employment opportunities and increase household incomes.
He said the initiative was also aligned with the Lagos State Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus Development Agenda, particularly its focus on making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, economic diversification, food security, youth empowerment and sustainable environmental management.
Audu commended BATNF for its continued partnership and investment in agricultural development, describing the collaboration as an example of how public private partnerships could deliver measurable socio economic benefits to farmers.
He also praised the management and staff of LSADA for their dedication to improving farmers’ livelihoods through innovative programmes and extension services.
The Permanent Secretary called on development partners, corporate organisations and non governmental organisations to collaborate with the state government on initiatives aimed at strengthening food systems, improving nutrition, generating employment and promoting inclusive economic growth.
He also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu for his leadership and commitment to agricultural transformation, saying the administration’s investment in agriculture was creating new opportunities for farmers, agripreneurs and the private sector.
Audu urged the participants to take full advantage of the training and translate the knowledge and practical skills acquired into productive enterprises that would contribute to increased poultry production and improved livelihoods.
The Programme Manager, LSADA, Mrs. Aderonke Toju Tubi, said the “Chicks to Plate” project represented another milestone in the Authority’s efforts to equip farmers with the knowledge, practical skills and modern production techniques required to establish resilient and profitable agribusinesses.
Toju Tubi said LSADA, as the agricultural extension arm of the Lagos State Government under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, was mandated to promote sustainable agricultural development through technology dissemination, capacity building, advisory services and farmer empowerment.
She said the “Chicks to Plate” project was a continuation of the successful partnership between LSADA and BATNF, which commenced with the establishment of fish hatchery and fish processing capacity building facilities under the “Fingerlings to Fork” project.
According to her, an impact assessment conducted through joint monitoring visits by LSADA and BATNF showed that beneficiaries of previous interventions had recorded improvements in productivity, income generation and business expansion.
“These success stories underscore the value of strategic partnerships in promoting sustainable agricultural development and economic empowerment,” she said.
Toju Tubi explained that the rebranding of the initiative from “Fingerlings to Fork” to “Chicks to Plate” was designed to address challenges confronting smallholder poultry farmers while supporting the state government’s efforts to increase local poultry production, improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.
She disclosed that 200 poultry farmers engaged in broiler and layer production would participate in the current training, with 40 participants to be selected for empowerment support at the end of the programme.
The Programme Manager appreciated BATNF for its continued support for agricultural development and food security in Lagos State, while expressing the Authority’s readiness to strengthen the partnership and welcome similar collaborations with other development partners and non governmental organisations.
She urged the participants to actively participate in the training sessions and apply the knowledge acquired to establish and expand successful poultry enterprises.
On his part, the General Manager of BATNF, Mr. Oludara Odusanya, described the training as a great honour and a strategic partnership aimed at boosting food production in Lagos State.
Represented by the Project Officer, Adetola Oniyelu, Odusanya charged the participants to take full advantage of the training by sharing ideas, building networks and developing an ecosystem that would make a remarkable difference in the state.
The three day training, which is being held at three different centres, will train 200 prospective and practising poultry farmers in modern broiler and layer production techniques.
The initiative is expected to complement the 1,436 fish farmers who benefited from the “Fingerlings to Fork” project between 2018 and 2025, further expanding the LSADA and BATNF partnership into poultry production and strengthening Lagos State’s drive towards greater food security.
