LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Lagos State Government has said its partnership with Niger State is to amplify the production of rice in the state.
This was contained in the message outlined by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, on Tuesday.
He said that the Rice Mill Initiative partnership with other states is aimed at sustaining the production and enhance productivity.
Fashola, who addressed the audience whilst the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, was presenting the report of the ministry in Ikeja to mark the first year of Gov Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Fashola said: “Because of the size of rice needed, Mr Governor signed an MOU with Niger State, being the largest producer of paddy in the country. The Imota rice mill needed 200,000 tonnes of paddy. The partnership with other states is to ensure the sustainability of production. We extend our hand of fellowship to all the South-West states.”
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The government also said it would launch 50 meat vans at Oko-Oba Abbatoir and also launch the Lagos Last Mile Meat Shops.
She said the unveiling of Lagos Last Mile Meat shops and utilisation of new vans would ensure the availability of meat for residents, create market access and curb the illegality in the transportation of meat across the state.
The state commissioner added that the Trader Money Initiative for market men and women, was to support business and improve farming across the state.
She added, “The government has over the last year secured the Lagos food system, leaving no one behind through the Lagos Agric Scholars’ programme while supporting with extension services. We have also supported more than 23,986 farmers thereby exceeding our target, which included rice, fish and poultry farmers.
And the state government has, through its Coconut Value Chain Development, trained youths and with the Eko Agro Mechanisation Project, the state has been able to procure tractors, mechanised farm implements for the beneficiaries.”
Abisola said the state through the Ministry of Agriculture had continued to embark on social interventions under the Eko Cares Initiative which include the Ounje Eko, food discounted sales, distribution of staple foods to vulnerable families, a welfare initiative for residents, among others.