Farmers laud Lagos on N500bn agric initiative

 Some farmers’ associations have commended the Lagos State Government on its N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund and Programme aimed at boosting food security.
The farmers’ association heads made the commendations in separate interviews with news men on the sidelines of the launch of the N500 billion ‘Produce for Lagos’ Offtake Guarantee Fund on Wednesday in Lagos.
News Men report that the ‘Produce for Lagos’ programme is a strategic initiative promoted by the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company aimed at enhancing food security and agricultural productivity in the state.
The programme aims to increase agricultural productivity ensure table food supply and develop a modern efficient food value chain through public-private partnerships and Special Purpose Vehicles.
The Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Southwest and Lagos State chapter, Dr Femi Oke, said the initiative was a long overdue programme that would benefit farmers across board.
“The ‘Produce for Lagos’ Offtake Guarantee Fund and Programme is long overdue. We have been expecting such a programme and initiative for a long time.
“Firstly, we are going to give a big applause to our Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for bringing it on board and at the right time.

“Seeing the launch of this initiative as farmers, we are very happy because most of us, when we produce, we have gluts in the market and we do not always get returns for our labour.

“It does not encourage us to produce more, forgetting that most of the money we use in the farm is a borrowed money.
“So, if government will now come up with this innovation of offtaking what we produce, definitely, it is a plus for all farmers,” Oke said.
He reiterated the excitement of local farmers at the innovative programme that would foster increased youth participation in the sector.
“We are excited because we will no longer witness post-harvest losses, even cases where we experience floods, pest infestation or climate change, we will not suffer so much losses.
“Definitely, the initiative is going to encourage youth inclusion in agriculture. Some years back, our youth did not want to imbibe or love agriculture but with this, we will have more youth participation in the sector,” the AFAN chairman said.
On her part, the President Ogbonge Women Agricultural Multi-purpose Society, Mrs Chinasa Asonye, said the initiative would solve the problem of getting ready available markets for local farmers.
“This initiative is going to benefit us as farmers in Lagos State, we now have ready offtakers that will come and buy off our produce.
“Our major problem is having a ready market, and we have been having issues with markets and selling our produce.
“And our governor felt that now farmers are producing. How can they be able to help us offset that burden of available markets from the farmers.
“And that is why they decided to launch this N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund.
“We are glad that as long as you are a farmer in Lagos State, and you have produce that you are cultivating in Lagos State, the minute the produce is ready, they will come and buy it off from you.
“Now we have a readymade market for our produce, a lot of farms have closed due to post-harvest losses as a result of unavailable markets for their produce,” Asonye said.

She said the initiative when implemented would help to reduce post-harvest losses.

“So, if Lagos State is able to accomplish this initiative, they are going to help farmers in reducing post-harvest losses.
“And this is going to go a long way to help farmers that have closed to go back to their farms, and start all over again,” she said.