RISING COST OF FOOD ITEMS: LASG ENGAGES LEADERSHIP OF MILE 12 MARKET, FARMERS ASSOCIATION

In a bid to address the current high cost of food items in Lagos, the State Government has expressed its readiness to support about 5000 Farmers with Agricultural inputs, lands for cultivation and funds where necessary.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya announced these measures during strategic meetings with the leadership of the Mile 12 International Market and Farmers Association held on Wednesday at the Conference Room of the Ministry in Alausa, Ikeja.

She said that the aim of the meeting was for the government to provide an enabling environment to boost farming to regulate the prices traders will sell food items to residents at the markets at affordable prices.

Olusanya noted that the Government over the years has been supporting farmers with farm inputs and funds, adding they are looking into allocating lands to farmers in Ito-Ikin in Epe and Badagry where they will have access to enough water for use.

The Commissioner said that she was glad with the large turnout of farmers as well as the passion and commitment displayed during the meeting, stressing that the ultimate aim of the dialogue with the government was to force down the prices of food items in the state and assured them of support and regular collaboration. 

While describing the participants as the real farmers feeding the nation, she assured that the Ministry was prepared to support them within a short period in different parts of the state, requesting a comprehensive list of their members.

Responding, Alhaji Shehu Usman Jubril, the Chairman of Mile 12 International Market, Lagos, said they were glad that the Ministry allowed them to partner with the State Government in boosting food production in Lagos. 

Alhaji Issa Mohammed, a farmer and leader of the Hausa community in the Tejuosho area of the state, said they have about 400 farmers in Lagos but have been sent packing from the lands they used in farming. He explained that the lands they used for farming were usually owned by people who engaged them as security men to ward off encroachers on the land.

According to him, they are fully prepared to cultivate more lands if the government provides a platform to do so, wishing the government will come to their aid. He disclosed that currently there is a threat to send them packing from Tejuosho around the Railway Line.

On his part, Abdullahi Abubakar, who leads the farmers in the Ojo axis, said they do not doubt the intentions of the government to work with them.

He said the Commissioner knows their challenges as a field person, adding they currently have 1,400 farmers in the Ojo axis.

Abubakar Abdullahi noted that Lagos can grow any kind of crop if there is a conducive environment in place, stating that they export some of their produce abroad.