LAGOS, Nigeria – In line with the State Government’s commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development, the Office of Rural Development has recorded significant milestones in rural transformation and agricultural empowerment.
This was disclosed on Thursday, by the Commissioner, Mr. Bolaji Kayode Robert, during the Ministry’s ministerial press briefing to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
The Commissioner revealed that several impactful initiatives empowering rural agriculture in the State were reeled out over the past year through its Community Agriculture Department’s Demonstration Centres across Lagos’ five divisions, including the Isheri Integrated Farm Centre and Ketu-Epe Farm Centre, which serve as hubs for training and equipping grassroots farmers with modern, sustainable farming techniques.
He mentioned that the Ministry’s initiatives on pilot goat-rearing scheme, rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure at Isheri, and the distribution of hybrid plantain and banana suckers, as well as providing farm inputs such as Agro-chemicals, fish feeds, catfish fingerlings, and movable tanks to rural farmers, is geared towards boosting farm productivity and aid food security in Lagos communities.
He affirmed that the Ministry’s strategic move to enhance grassroots participation fueled the introduction of the periodic interactive forum with Heads of Agriculture and Social Services from all 57 LGAs and LCDAs, a step aimed at training farmers in their localities was held, focusing on market access and agricultural credit to farmers.
He stressed that to further demonstrate the commitment of Lagos State Government in improving rural livelihoods, the Ministry organised an advocacy Programme for farmers on tackling micronutrient deficiencies thereby supporting the cultivation of biofortified food crops and fish products.
In the same vein, Robert highlighted that the State Government, through the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD), also prioritised human capital development, by training over 2,000 youths, women, and farmers in aquaculture, apiculture, and digital skills.
Essential farming tools such as brush cutters, hoes, planters, and fishing nets were distributed to 300 farmers across the rural divisions of Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry.
He added that the Centre is currently rehabilitating the Kola Pod Husk Cottage Industry in Igbokuta, in Ikorodu Local Government, for the production of organic manure and local products, as well as the development of a greenhouse, which is near completion at Igbodu, Epe local Government; an effort to enable all year-round cultivation of leafy vegetables, to support both food security and nutrition.
In his words, “these empowerment programmes are in response to the sustainable rural development goal in the THEMES plus Agenda of Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu which have begun to yield tangible results through the reduction of unemployment, efforts towards zero-hunger and promotion of economic self-reliance in Lagos State” he concluded.
