The Lagos State commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau has said that the state has acquired more than 2, 134 hectres of land from neighbouring states to promote agriculture.
Saurau said this at an agriculture seminar organised by Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) titled: “Repositioning Agriculture for Youths Empowerment, Rural and Economic Development,” in Lagos.
The commissioner, who was represented by Mr Oladeji Alao, general manager, Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA) said the state government had invested much in agriculture to empower youths.
“Before 1960, Nigeria was an agarian society, We are suffering because of our over reliance on oil. Many countries used the resources from agriculture to build structures.
“The average age of a Nigerian farmer today is about 55, which means youths have a role to play in agriculture to bring the nation back to the path of fortune.
“Lagos State has 84 hectres of land in Osogbo out of which 20 hectres is used of palm produce, while others are used for rice farm, cassava farm and mills.
“We have also acquired 1000 hectres in the same Osun, 500 hectres in Ogun and Oyo each, as well as 50 hectres in Abuja to encourage farming,” Suarau said.
According to him, the state has developed estate farming and cluster farming because of the chal-lenge of space in the state.
He said that the state had fishery estates, poultry estates Vegetable estates as well as Green House Technology to guard wastages.
Suarau added that, “As part of the efforts of Lagos State government to attract youths into agriculture, we have agric youth empowerment scheme and provision for irrigation facility.
“Our loan for agric must be single digit if we want to make agric attractive to youths, the interest rate must not be high, hence it will not be profitable.”
The guest speaker, Mr Isaac Oluyi, who delivered a lecture on “Reclaiming the Lost Paradise Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship”, called for the use of technology in agriculture business.
Source: Leadership Newspapers
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