By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of agricultural productive assets and inputs to beneficiaries under the 2021 Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme.
The 2021 Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme, as gathered, has no less than 3,000 beneficiaries across the agricultural value chain in the State.
The 3,000 beneficiaries including women, youths and vulnerable Lagosians were empowered with equipment and agricultural input expected to help in making significant difference in the quality and scale of their agricultural practice.
The interventions, according to report, will cut across a wide range of participants in the agricultural value chain, including farmers, processors and merchants of fish, poultry, pigs, as well as rice and other crops.
The beneficiaries which cut across stakeholders in the value chain were empowered with tractors, ploughs, fishing boats and gear; harvesters, threshers, destoning machines, de-feathering machines, medication, herbicides, fish juveniles, pig growers, smoking kilns, eggs, and various other implements and input.
It was gathered that the implements are to be utilised in farming communities across the agricultural zones of Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu in the State.
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu at the flag off ceremony held at Ikeja, the State Capital, said the Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme is a clear demonstration of the commitment of his administration to the development and expansion of the agricultural sector in Lagos State, driven by a “farm to table” model that aligns with the goal of making Lagos a truly 21st century economy.
“This is yet another milestone in fulfilling our electoral promises to the people of Lagos State, with regards to food security, and against the backdrop of our T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
“Today, through this Activation Programme, our administration is supporting 3,000 women, youths and vulnerable Lagosians with equipment and agricultural input that will help make a significant difference in the quality and scale of their agricultural practice,” he said.
Speaking on the goal of the programme, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that: “We want to make life easier for our farmers and agriculture workers.
“We want to make it easier for them to clear their land, grow high-quality crops, raise healthy animals, and process their output.
“When they are able to do this successfully, everyone benefits, from producers to consumers. There are clear benefits in terms of health, productivity, employment, and so on.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the Lagos State Government has put in place a strategy for the proper utilisation and continuous maintenance of the assets, to ensure that the maximum value are driven from them.
He disclosed that the Government is working with a financial institution regarding appropriate financing structures for the guaranteed sustainability of the programme.
The Governor mentioned that following such disruptions as the #endsars protests, the State government has come to reconcile with the need to focus on agriculture by leveraging on the limited resources of the State with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve food self sufficiency.
“Our determination to increase food production in the State from the current 20% to at least 50% of demand by 2025 has been emboldened with the disruption in the supply chain of food across the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of zoonotic diseases.
“It is clear that the implementation of this Year’s Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme is therefore aimed at consolidating our ongoing ambitious and determined efforts towards the development and expansion of the entire Lagos State Agricultural sector.
“You may have noticed that the Programme has taken on a new format, different from what it used to be; and it has also undergone a change of name, into the ‘Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme.’
“The consequences of the disruption, coupled with the aftermath of the #endsars protests, impacted heavily on the cost and availability of food items, leaving less disposable income in the pockets of the average Lagosian.
“We have emerged wiser and more determined to succeed in creating and nurturing a viable agribusiness sector in Lagos State. We may be Nigeria’s smallest State by land mass, lacking the large tracts of land available to others, but we will not allow that to stand in the way of our vision.
“We will maximize the little we have, while also deploying the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit we are known for, to create new opportunities to feed ourselves and feed Nigeria, and create economic growth and prosperity through agriculture,” he said.
According to him, other ongoing investments which will enhance the output of the sector as captured under the recently launched 5-Year Agricultural and Food System Development Road Map, include the 32 Metric Tonnes Per Hour Rice Mill, Imota, expected on completion by the 4th quarter of this year, to produce 2.4 million bags of 50kg rice annually and create 250,000 jobs; the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP); a collaborative programme aimed at training and retraining at least 15,000 women, youths and vulnerable Lagosians, who will engage in quality food production with the utilisation of modern technology in identified Agricultural Value Chains over the next 5 years.
Others include; establishment of the Lagos Food Production Centre, Avia, Badagry, to serve as an incubation center for the graduates of the Agripreneurship programme, the Cage and Pen Culture Project, establishment of the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE), at Igbonla in Eredo LCDA, in partnership with a private investor, among others.
The Governor however reminded the beneficiaries that given the fact that the effort is actually directed towards ‘activating’ new business ventures for them, they were to reciprocate the gesture by working hard to nurture their businesses to maturity.
“It is only when today’s beneficiaries succeed that the programme can stand the chance of being sustainable. So, by putting in your best today, and judiciously utilizing the assets entrusted to you, what you are doing is opening doors for more people to benefit tomorrow,” he said.
Calling for private partnership, he said: “Let me make it clear that the government cannot do it alone. We need the support of the private sector and other stakeholders, the beneficiaries, agricultural associations and unions, local communities, traditional and community leaders, the media, youth groups, and many more. Let us join hands to feed Lagos State, feed Nigeria and build lasting and transformational wealth through agriculture.”
In her remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the empowerment of the over 3,000 beneficiaries was borne out of strategic measure to spur transformed mindset towards the agricultrual value chain in the State.
She mentioned that the initiative serves as another measure through which the governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration is delivering on the mandate of office.
She mentioned that the 2021 programme centres on three major value chain – poultry, fisheries and piggery – as the subsectors mostly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
She mentioned that the need to empower the youth which forms about 70 per cent of the population in the Country is significant, adding that the effort is directed towards making Lagos become a giant hub of agriculture in Africa.
According to her, the focus on the youth in fisheries is channeled towards the need to cover up gaps from the ageing fishermen with vibrant youths with enterpreneurship strategies.
“It is our strong desire to help our serious and committed farmers to nurture their farming activities into viable and mature agricultural enterprises through a deliberate monitoring and control mechanisms,” she said.
In his remark, the State’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, recalling that Agriculture delivers less than two percents to the GDP of Lagos, said the initiative which according to him “is not cosmetics” will improve the contribution of the sector to over five per cent in the next five years, leading to job opportunities, food security, and economic growth in the State.
He said the State Government would commission a business motoring framework in the regard, mentioning that the State would not just deliver the empowerment but monitor the use for productive outcome.
In her remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, said the initiative was responsive to the demands of accommodating young graduates into the agriculture value chain.
Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, said the consistency of the programme which has hit the third series, is remarkable, stating that the choice of beneficiaries are well designed to capture those deserving the benefits.
He however, charged the youths who constitute about 47 per cent of the beneficiaries to use their strength to drive the productivity derivable from the empowerment.
In his remark, the Oniru of Iru land, HRM Gbolohan Lawal, mentioned that monitoring is key to the empowerment, adding that those beneficiaries within his jurisdiction will be monitored to ensure they deliver on the expectations.
The monarch who was the immediate past Commissioner for the State’s Ministry of Agriculture before his coronation as the Abisogun II, 15th Oniru of Iruland on the 7th of June 2020, said the antecedents of the programme dates back to the need to mainstream the FADAMA scheme.
He mentioned that the programme is a perfect example of inclusive empowerment and an expression of inclusive government.