The Lagos State Commissioner for agriculture, Abisola Olusanya has said that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration would incentivize more farmers across the value chain for better market accessibility and food security, leveraging the Eko City Farmers’ Fair.
Olusanya stated this on Sunday at the December edition of the state’s ` Eko City Farmers’ Fair and Appreciation Day’ held to recognise the contributions of farmers to the economy of Lagos.
“Generally, our farmers have been under a lot this year. We felt that with the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the food system, there is no better time to begin to show appreciation; there is no better platform where we need to put our farmers where they are also recognised locally,” Olusanya said.
According to the agric commissioner, the appreciation day is a form of incentive for the farmers to make them understand their importance in the scheme of things in Lagos. Olusanya also urged people to give farmers the needed recognition they deserve in the state.
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According to her, the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu has thought that it was good to change the direction of things in relation to the state farmers, hence the 2020 appreciation day in honour of farmers, adding that “under this administration, our farmers must begin to have their right of place”.
The commissioner pointed out that the Eko City Farmers Fair was intended to be a melting point for farmers to be able to sell directly to consumers and for Lagosians to buy farm-fresh products directly from stakeholders at farm gate prices while shopping in a relaxed atmosphere.
“We want people to be able to come here with their kids to be able to shop and for the kids to be happy as well. That is the essence of having a positive atmosphere,” she said.
Olusanya also urged Nigerians to support farmers as a way of cutting down food import to help reduce the current foreign exchange (FX) pressure on the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Yet we keep importing food: why are we not helping our farmers; why are we not incentivising our farmers… the more food we import, the more US dollar we will need to be able to pay for this food import,” said Olusanya.
Several awards were given to the farmers along with the agribusiness value chain category, which includes best artisanal farmer; best vegetable farmer; best fish farmer; most promising farmer among others.
