Food Crisis: Lagos To Get Farm Produce From Neighbouring States

Farm produce from the newly acquired 10, 000 hectares of land from neighbouring states will be delivered in Lagos state before the end of December as part of strategy to stem hunger and poverty as well as increase sources of food supply in the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, who made the remarks at the commemoration of 2012 International World Food Day Celebration at LTV ground, Ikeja, stressed the need for increased food production through sustainable cooperative activities.

This came on the backdrop of a recent alarm raised over possible outbreak of food scarcity due to the present ravaging flood in some parts of the country that destroyed wide expanse of farmland.

According to Fashola, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, “In view of the land constraints and need to ensure food security, the state started acquisition of agricultural land outside the state for dedicated production foodstuff beginning from Osun state. “So far, over 10,000 hectares of land have been identified in other states. The produce from these farms are expected in the state before the end of this year.”

Fashola, therefore, urged farmers and producers in the state to take advantage of the various initiatives in the sector as well as opportunities provided through cooperative societies for their personal and collective good.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the World”, Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said that considerable efforts have been made to improve productivity in agriculture by focussing on the whole value chain with emphasis on enterprises where the state has comparative advantage. He said: “Everyone knows that the state has irrigation, the green house technology and others. Whatever the federal government gives to Lagos state will be an addition to the infrastructure provided by the state government."

Source: Legit.ng