Business
Lagos Farmers Get N39m Lifeline
The Lagos State Government last week said it had distributed subsidised agricultural input worth N39 million to farmers and fishermen in the state.
Gov. Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this at the inauguration of Oko-Oba Farm Service Centre, said that the 40 per cent subsidy input would further propel farmers to improve and sustain their production.
Represented by his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Fashola said that the Farm Centre was established to bring service closer to farmers and train them in modern classroom environment.
“This is the first in the series as we will decentralise agricultural services to our farmers by replicating it in five divisions of the state to bring service closer to the people.
“And it will become a one-stop shop to alleviate their problems thus, saving them time and money,” Fashola said.
The governor said that the Farm Service Centre would also provide entrepreneurial training, skill enhancement and supply inputs to farmers, among others.
He said that the state government would not only strive to feed its populace, but would also take giant strides to ensure that the state produced between 25 and 30 per cent of its food needs by 2025.
“We hope to target 60 per cent by 2050,” Fashola said.
He said that the state government had commenced the purchase of land from other states in order to achieve its food security agenda.
“An example is Oshogbo, where we will soon commence the planting of cash and food crops to sustain our people.
“All these activities, in addition to the mobilisation of rural folks, will be carried out with the aim of providing food for citizens in the best form possible and at affordable prices in an environmentally-friendly manner,” Fashola said.
The Commissioner for Agricuture and Cooperatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, said that the state government would empower farmers by sharing knowledge through farm service centres.