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Lagos sets to mark World Food Day

By Gbenga Akinfenwa
08 October 2017   |   4:11 am
Ahead tomorrow’s World Food Day, the Lagos State government has restated its commitment to ensuring food security for its populace, through its various agricultural programmes.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau

Affirms Commitment To Ensuring Food Security
Ahead tomorrow’s World Food Day, the Lagos State government has restated its commitment to ensuring food security for its populace, through its various agricultural programmes.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, who stated this at a press briefing signaling the commencement of activities to commemorate the year 2017 World Food Day Celebration, said various agricultural programmes aimed at making the state a food secured place have been developed through profitable investments in the agricultural value chains.

He noted that the theme of this year’s celebration: “Change The Future Of Migration: Investment In Food Security And Rural Development,” brings to fore the various challenges countries are facing in terms of migration and food security.

“I wish to emphasise that the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Agriculture has developed agricultural initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, the recent breakthrough in rice-agribusiness readily comes to mind, considering the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States on large production, processing and distribution of the LAKE Rice product,” he said.

Suarau noted that a 32 metric tonne per hour rice milling plant, which will become operational next year has been acquired by the state to ensure that Lagos meets up with the demand of its LAKE rice product.

He added that Lagos is also collaborating with Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States in the area of rice production, so as to ensure that adequate rice is supplied to the mill.

The Commissioner said vigorous market sensitisation on the use of re-useable plastic crates in place of raffia basket for packaging and carriage of perishable farm produce is ongoing, stressing that the use of plastic crates will take effect from next year.

Suarau noted that the establishment of Agricultural Estate Initiative, promotion of vegetable production using greenhouse technology, cage and pen culture in fisheries production, strengthening of farm settlement initiative, empowerment of farmers are some of the initiatives aimed to further improve agricultural development and sustainable food security in Lagos.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Ganiyu Sanni Okanlawon added that the state, since inception of the present administration has embarked on agricultural policies and programmes that would enhance food security in the state.

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