Lagos State Government has declared to reduce dependence on rice importation, which costs the country about N365 billion annually by empowering the local producers with various agricultural inputs including land preparation, seeds, fertilizers, water pumps and other inputs to boost production.
Speaking at Itoikin Rice field, where the agricultural inputs including small irrigation scheme equipment were distributed to the farmers, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olajide Bashorun disclosed that the programme was aimed at boosting rice production in the state and as a way of contributing towards making the country a food self-sufficient.
“The present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode believes that governance should shift to the community hence the distribution of inputs support ranging from land preparation, seeds, fertilizer and water pumps; this will not only boost production but also bring about effective and efficient rice production thereby increasing the production of rice in the state,” he said.
Bashorun noted that among the very prime value chains that Lagos State has comparative and competitive advantage was rice value chain, stressing that the State Government placed premium on this value chain including others like vegetables, poultry and fisheries chains.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority, Mr. Bolaji Balogun, pointed out that the gesture was symbolic especially against the backdrop of farmers often depending on Rainfed Agriculture adding that since the State has an Ogun/ Oshun River basin authority, the need to maximise the water resource to aid all year round farming cannot be overemphasized.