The Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) has trained no fewer than 200 poultry farmers on poultry production and management, to boost their productivity along the value chain.

Tagged: “Chicks to Plate,”three-day capacity building workshop, was organised in collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), at LSADA’s office, Oko-Oba, Agege.

The training was declared opened by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, who noted that the training was part of the state government’s initiatives to ensure food security through enhanced household nutrition and to empower farmers with adequate knowledge on how to increase their productivity.

Represented by Mrs. Aramide Ganzallo, Olusanya said: “The decision to focus on poultry production is both timely and strategic, given its significant potential to enhance food security, improve household nutrition, create employment, and generate sustainable income.

“As one of the most viable agricultural enterprises, poultry farming offers smallholder farmers, women, and youths a practical pathway to economic empowerment through the adoption of modern production practices.

“This intervention is expected to strengthen the poultry value chain by improving production efficiency, encouraging enterprise development, increasing the availability of quality eggs and poultry meat, and reducing production constraints faced by smallholder farmers.”

In her opening remarks, the LSADA’s Prrogramme Manager, Aderonke Toju-Tubi noted that the programme, which started in 2018 with training in fish farming, was rebranded to enhance the poultry production value chain.

‘’The project has been rebranded as “Chicks to Plate” to focus on poultry production and management. This strategic shift is intended to address the challenges confronting smallholder poultry farmers, while supporting the state government’s efforts to increase local poultry production, improve livelihoods, and strengthen food security.

“This year’s programme will provide practical and technical training for 200 poultry farmers engaged in both broiler and layer production across Lagos State. At the end of the training, 40 participants will be selected to receive empowerment support to enhance their poultry enterprises,’’ he said.

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Audu, represented by Mrs. Fola Idowu said: “Nigeria’s demand for poultry products continues to exceed domestic production, while Lagos, with its rapidly growing population, accounts for a significant proportion of the country’s poultry consumption. This presents a tremendous opportunity to increase local production, reduce dependence on imported poultry products, strengthen food security, and stimulate economic growth within the state.

“By equipping our farmers with modern production techniques, improved management practices, sound biosecurity measures, and agribusiness skills, this programme will enhance productivity, improve product quality, create sustainable employment opportunities, and increase household incomes.”

BATNF’s Project Officer, Adetola Oniyelu noted that the training would further empower beneficiaries with the right skills on poultry farming and by extension boost their productivity.