Lagos State Government has flagged off urban farming programme to curb food scarcity.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya inaugurated the programme yesterday, January 27, at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA), Oko Oba, Agege.
Olusanya explained that the programme was introduced to boost food security in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Hakeem Adeniji, said that urban farming is an agricultural revolution which had started in some developed countries to solve food insecurity.
According to her, the development will encourage local food promotion and urban sustainability efforts.
“Urban farming is among the most pressing needs of any urban agglomeration to achieve food security and one of the ways to achieve this is by supporting and recognising the economic, environmental and social benefits which the project offers.
“According to Food Agriculture Organisation, urban agriculture is the form of agriculture practices within and around cities which compete for limited resources like land, water, energy and labour.
“The diversity of urban agriculture is one of its main attributes, as it can be adapted to wide range of urban situations and to the needs of diverse stakeholders.”
Olusanya said that urban farming is popular for several reasons including sustainability, affordability, health and convenience.
She said that it is a sustainable movement that do not only produce an abundance of organic locally grown food but also would reduce food related carbon emissions, including transportation that is low food mileage.
Olusanya said that the farming process has the potential to stimulate the local economy through job creation, income generation and the growth of small businesses.
She said that the agricultural process would make fresh food more affordable in the state.
Olusanya said that the project would become a global green evolution if well embraced.
She noted that it would give households direct access to consume a more diverse, quality, richer and highly nutritional based fresh homegrown products.
The Programme Manager, LSADA, Dr. Olalekan Pereira-Sheteolu, in his remarks, said that urban farming is a flagship that would take the state to greater heights through food production.
Pereira-Sheteolu said that the agricultural process would ensure food security with higher number of population in the state.
The project manager appealed to Lagos residents to feel free to consult the agency for assistance in starting the urban farming in their various homes.
“We urge the residents to embrace the development by turning their compounds to farming, by planting vegetables and other can crops that are important in the kitchen.”
A farmer in the state, Professor Idowu Ogunkoya, commended the state government for the laudable initiative.
Ogunkoya advised residents to embrace the development, to ensure more food production and self sufficiency the statenan.
