The Lagos State government has officially inaugurated two agro-processing centers in the Ikorodu Local Government Area in an effort to enhance food security within the state,
This announcement was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, during the inauguration ceremony on Friday.
The newly established agro-processing centers consist of a Cottage Broiler Processing Center located in Itamaga and an Egg Aggregation Center situated in Erikorodo, Ikorodu.
Both projects were facilitated by the Lagos Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support Project.
According to the commissioner, the inauguration of these agro-processing centers underscores Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s dedication to ensuring food security in Lagos State.
Olusanya emphasized the importance of the Lagos State government’s support for the local agricultural food chain and farming community, aimed at meeting the food requirements of Lagos State.
She also highlighted the positive impact of the Lagos APPEALS Project, noting that thousands of farmers in the state, particularly in aquaculture, poultry, and rice value chains, have benefited from this initiative.
Furthermore, the commissioner revealed that the Lagos State Government would soon collaborate more closely with farmers across various sectors, value chains, and clusters to address the needs of Lagos residents and provide substantial support to local farmers.
Olusanya said, “The focus of the government is on establishing the right food system and market infrastructure to empower farmers to create the right commodities for exchange. Thereby, addressing price fluctuations and price fixation. We import more than we export. We consume from outside more than we produce internally. We need to support the agricultural food system of Nigeria and the farmers at large. We need to support farmers to produce enough to cater to the needs of Nigerians and Lagosians, which is why Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu believes in the food actors.”
Mrs. Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, the Lagos State Coordinator of the APPEALS Project, added that the two agro-processing centers in Ikorodu were established based on needs assessment to enhance farmers’ productivity.
She noted that the broiler processing center would address issues related to foreign exchange and reduce the local production cost of chicken.
During the inauguration, Mrs. Ibitoye Juliana, Chairperson of Erikorodo Poultry Estate Farmers Association, expressed her gratitude and noted that the establishment of both projects was a significant milestone for farmers in Erikorodo and Ikorodu as a whole.
Mr. Bartholomew Akhigbe, the Chairman of the Cluster group, also praised the Lagos State government and the APPEALS project, stating that the processing center would boost farmers’ productivity in the area and contribute to reducing chicken imports.
