News in Brief:
– Lagos State is launching farmers’ forums across its administrative divisions to assess agricultural needs and solve food insecurity through initiatives like affordable input supply and technology.
– This effort underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering the agricultural sector through direct engagement and innovative solutions.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to conduct a series of farmers’ forums across its five administrative divisions to engage agriculture stakeholders in the state.
These forums will be held across the Ikorodu, Ikeja, Epe, Badagry, and Lagos Island administrative divisions. They aim to directly engage with farmers, understand their needs, and jointly develop lasting solutions to their challenges.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Agricultural Input Supply Authority (LAISA), Olufolake Oluyemi, revealed this development during a recent media engagement.
Direct engagement for needs assessment
Oluyemi stated that her initial interactions with farmers after assuming her role provided crucial insights into the realities of the agricultural sector. It allowed farmers to communicate their most pressing needs directly to the government.
During the interactive session on Lagos Traffic Radio, she cited the distinct requirements of farmers in the different parts of the state. She pointed out how, for example, fishermen in riverine communities like Badagry have expressed a need for affordable fishing nets and boat engines. Then, she compared it to crop farmers in other areas who are urgently seeking seedlings and other essential supplies as the planting season approaches, noting the different realities of farmers.
The executive explained that the upcoming forums across all divisions reflect a shift in approach, acknowledging that the needs of farmers vary across different regions of the state.
She also mentioned her plans of establishing closer ties with cooperative societies to enable farmers to purchase necessary inputs through savings schemes. The LAISA is developing a mobile application to allow farmers to access and buy agricultural inputs online.
Oluyemi reiterated the administration’s dedication to ensuring food security in the state, while reaffirming the agency’s primary role in procuring high-quality agricultural inputs at wholesale prices and making them available to farmers at affordable and accessible rates.
She asserted that under her leadership, LAISA will prioritise direct engagement and understanding with farmers.
