The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in partnership with Farm Junction Foundation, has revealed plans to host an agricultural project considered to be the first of its kind in the megacity.
Themed, ‘The Most Beautiful Farmer’, the project intends to showcase the beauty of agriculture while celebrating the strength and resilience of women who drive the agricultural industry.
Abisola Olusanya, Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, stated this in a statement made available to BusinessDay.
She explained that female farmers not only contribute to the sector but also nurture the land that provides the food. She said that the initiative was to boost food production, enhance affordability, and make a significant contribution to food security in the State and the nation at large.
Olusanya said that the ‘Most Beautiful Farmer’ project is an empowerment initiative designed to elevate female farmers by providing them with tools, resources and recognition they deserve, with strategic partnerships aimed to foster sustainable agro practices and promote agriculture as a viable career pathway.
According to her, partnership is essential for the progress of residents of Lagos and Nigeria at large.
Dumebi Oluwole, one of the project coordinators at Farm Junction Foundation, said that it was the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from the company and other subsidiaries to empower female farmers in the megacity who are mostly marginalised in terms of support and vulnerable in the agricultural value chains.
Oluwole explained that the definition of beauty under this context just like beauty pageant goes beyond what the person looks like but more about excellence in farming, hard work, the tenacity of farmlands and ability to show their uniqueness in the agricultural value chains.
The project is set to hold between September 10-17, under the title, ‘Making Farming Cool’.
The first runner-up will receive seeds worth N1 million with farming equipment, while the winner will be given a truck as well as farming equipment.
