The Lagos State Government on Thursday flagged off urban farming programme to curb food scarcity and shortage in the state.
Ms Abisola Olusanya, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, inaugurated the programme at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA), Oko Oba, Agege.
Olusanya said the programme was introduced to boost food security in the state.
Olusanya, who was represented by Mr Hakeem Adeniji, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said urban farming was 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,” she said.
Olusanya said that urban farming was popular for several reasons including sustainability, affordability, health and convenience.
She said it was a sustainable movement that did 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 had 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.
Dr Olalekan Pereira-Sheteolu, the Programme Manager, LSADA, in his remarks, said that urban farming was 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,” he said.
Prof. Idowu Ogunkoya, a farmer, commended the state government for the laudable initiative.
Ogunkoya urged residents to embrace the development, to ensure more food production and self sufficiency the state.
NAN