The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to partner with local and international stakeholders in ensuring food security for residents of the State.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Sam Egube, made the disclosure during his appearance on the TVC News Business Nigeria programme tagged ‘Evaluating Effect of State Government and COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Recovery’, with his counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms. Bisola Olusanya.
Egube said the State is partnering with local stakeholders to ensure that all Agricultural produce coming into the State are standard and high quality, emphasising the need for proper packaging of farm produce in order to maintain hygiene, avoid loss of produce, as well as ensure that prices are affordable for average Lagosians.
He also spoke on the partnership with the Republic of The Netherlands on mechanised farming, pointing out that Netherlands is the second-largest food-producing country in the world.
The Commissioner, therefore, urged the youths to embrace the Agricultural policies of the State government meant to create gainful employment and improve food security in Lagos.
On her part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Bisola Olusanya decried the fall in Agricultural production in the State, stressing that the present administration is working to increase its food production level from 20% to 40% in the next couple of years.
She said the State arable land can grow tomatoes, vegetables and other farm produce, adding that in an effort to improve food production, the State has plans to help farmers in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry divisions of the State with clearing tractors as well as other farms inputs as government incentives.
Olusanya also emphasised the need for Greenhouse farming in managing temperature and improving farm yields, noting that Greenhouse Farm Estate will generate more than 250 jobs for Lagos residents.