On Lagos State’s new approach to food security By Tayo Ogunbiyi

A United Nations statistics confirms that over 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat ( more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union) while the number of undernourished people in the world increased by 75 million in 2007 and 40 million in 2008 (largely due to high cost of food). In third world countries, the statistic is worrisome as over 1 billion people are hungry.

In Nigeria, considering its ever growing population, Lagos is, particularly, in danger of being engulfed in food crisis. It is in order to avert such that the State Government has evolved programmes to boost food security in the state. Such include marine agriculture, fisheries development, artisanal fisheries, development/replenishment of open water bodies, provision of wholesome meat, and establishment of modern abattoirs, integrated livestock expansion, acquisition of expansive arable lands in other states for farming, agricultural input supply to farmers and fishermen and credit delivery to farmers, redevelopment of agricultural cooperatives, provision of agricultural land services, root and tuber expansion and partnership with other states to enhance food security.

The Lagos-Kebbi partnership, in particular, clearly demonstrates the strong resolve of the State Government to enhance food security not only in Lagos but in the country at large. The partnership thrives on pragmatic use of existing resources for the common good of the citizenry. Kebbi, for instance, is endowed with vast arable land suitable for agricultural production in rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, groundnut etc while Lagos has the needed industrial and economic potentials to drive the partnership. One key benefit of the Lagos- Kebbi partnership is its capacity to renew investors’ interest in agro-based industries, boost for agric related cooperative societies, among others.

To further boost rice production and enhance job creation in the state, the State Government had settled100 farmers on a 500 Hectares of land acquired in Eggua, Ogun State. Consequently, with yield improving from less than one tonne per hectare to about 3 tons per hectare with double cropping in some areas where irrigation facilities are provided, rice cultivation is, indeed, experiencing relative improvement in the State.

In terms of human capacity development, 300 trainees comprising of courses I, II and III have been empowered through an intensive training scheme while effort is being intensified to settle courses IV and V as well as process the admission of 100 trainees for course VI.

The training scheme has since been paying off as over 1,500 crates of egg per day, 2,000 broilers per month, 18 tonnes of fresh fish per cycle and about 160 tonnes of cabbage, sweet melon, water melon, cucumber, pepper and assorted leafy vegetables per month are currently being marketed in various centers across the State.

Similarly, the Agric-Yes project in Avia, Badagry which is fashioned after the Project Songhai of Benin republic, is a blueprint for translating the socio-demographic opportunities in the State into reality, and turning agriculture into a productive, efficient, sustainable, and remunerative enterprise. It is designed as a catalyst for a broader, multi-partnership program to support the State Government in promoting access of youths, men and women, to appropriate entrepreneurial, leadership and management skills in agribusiness.

Productive facilities in the area of poultry, fisheries, piggery and vegetable production have been completed; the project is at the last phase of completion. A network of beneficiaries would be set up to promote zero waste as the input of one will be the output of the other.

Also, the State Government has gone a step ahead in the promotion of strategic initiatives to develop an expanded structure for coconut production and processing in the State. This is being done through Public Private Partnership arrangement as a means of generating employment, wealth creation and food security. The 180Km Coconut groves along the coast line of the State are benefiting from this fresh initiative. Towards this end, the completed Coconut House at Mowo, Badagry, has become a demonstration centre for the training of farmers and provision of technical information for interested investors in the production of Coconut milk, oil and water.

The State Government is also supporting farmers through the activities of Lagos State Agricultural Input Supply Authority (LAISA) by making sure that required inputs are made available to farmers and fisher folks timely at affordable price. This is being done through the distribution of over 1,500 bags of fertilizer, hybrid maize and agrochemicals to crop and vegetable farmers, distribution of over 4,000 bags of fish feeds to fish farmers as well as distribution of 80 units of poultry battery cages to poultry farmers. This is aside other inputs like knapsack sprayers, water pumps and feed ingredients which were supplied to farmers.

Similarly, in order to sanitise meat distribution, plans are in top gear to set up two major Abattoirs at Epe and Ojo Local Governments in addition to the one at Oko Oba. The development of mini modernized Abattoirs in five approved locations namely: Ilaje- Bariga, Ikorodu, Agbowa, Matori and Oto- Awori through Public Private Partnership arrangement has also commenced. Matori Abattoir has been completed and slaughtering activities has also commenced while Ikorodu and Ilaje is about 80% completed. Dislodgement of illegal slaughter slabs is also currently being pursued. For instance, Igando, Oke Afa and Ejigbo slaughter slabs were recently dislodged.

As our nation grapples with challenging economic situation, the agricultural sector remains a sure area where the twin issues of unemployment and food security could be solved. This is why the fresh Lagos initiatives are laudable. The height of insecurity in the nation calls for more concerted effort by all tiers of governments to urgently device new methods of tackling the twin issues of food security and unemployment in the country. Youth unemployment, if not immediately addressed could be a time bomb for the country. It is, therefore, anticipated that more states in the country will effectively pursue food security as a strategy for industrial and economic advancement.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja