Lagos empowers rice farmers with inputs support

The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has again empowered rice farmers in the state with inputs support ranging from land preparation to seeds, fertilizer and water pumps to boost production during this dry season farming.
Speaking at a programme to flag-off this year’s Dry Season Rice Farming and distribution of agricultural inputs and small irrigation scheme equipment at Itoikin Rice Field, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olajide Bashorun, disclosed that the programme is aimed at boosting rice production.
Bashorun said: “The present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode believes that governance should shift to the community hence the distribution of inputs support ranging from land preparation, seeds, fertilizer and water pumps.
“This will not only boost production, but also bring about effective and efficient rice production, thereby increasing the production of rice in the state.”
Bashorun noted that among the very prime value chains that Lagos State has comparative and competitive advantage gain is the rice value chain, stressing that the state government places premium on this value chain, including others like vegetables, poultry and fisheries.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority, Bolaji Balogun, pointed out that the event is symbolic, especially against the backdrop of farmers often depending on Rain-fed agriculture, adding that since the state has an Ogun/Oshun River Basin Authority, the need to maximise the water resource to aid all year round farming cannot be overemphasized.
He said: “Rice is an area that Lagos State can demonstrate enormous capacity with support from Ogun-Oshun and FADAMA III project additional financing.
“We can put more line into rice twice or thrice a year and move the annual gig of rice from two tonnes to six tonnes.”
According to Bashorun, farmers are contributing towards ensuring food security in the state and one of the primary goals of the state government is to ensure that the state is food secured and can substantially meet its food demand.
He said: “We also know that rice has become a major staple food in the state and in a situation where the country is spending on the average N1 billion monthly to import rice and N365 billion yearly, it’s high time we become dependent on rice production and rice utilization market is guaranteed as Lagos is one of the states in the federation that has put in place a modern rice mill machine.”
Bashorun however admonished the farmers to utilize the 332 water pumps distributed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority effectively, adding that the least expected from them all is to create more jobs, create wealth from the production being generated and above all to develop themselves.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority, Engineer Akin Soyemi, stated that he looks forward to a continued collaboration and cooperation between his organization and the state whilst also encouraging beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment and facilities.