Lagos Govt engages leadership of Mile 12 Market, Farmers Association on modalities to curb rising cost of food items in the state

In a bid to address the current high cost of food items in Lagos, the state government has expressed its readiness to support about five thousand farmers with Agric inputs, lands for cultivation and funds where necessary.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya announced these measures during a strategic rounds of meetings with the leadership of the Mile 12 International Market and Farmers Association held at conference room of the ministry in Alausa, Ikeja.

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

Olusanya noted that 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 turn out of farmers and the passion and commitment displayed during the meeting.

According to her, the ultimate aim of the dialogue with government was to force down the prices of food itmes in the state.

She described them as the real farmers feeding the nation saying that she always noticed huge farmlands on Iyana Iba along Lagos-Badagry Expressway and excited with it.

The commissioner assured that the Ministry was prepared to support them within short period in different parts of the state while requesting for a comprehensive list of their members.

Responding, Alhaji Shehu Usman Jubril, the Chairman Mile 12 International Market, Lagos said they were glad that government gave them opportunity to move closer to partner in boosting food production in the state

Alhaji Issa Mohammed, a farmer and leader of the Hausa community in Tejuosho area of the state said they have about 400 farmers in Lagos but have been sent parking from the lands they used in farming.

He explained that the lands they used for farming are usually owned by people who engaged them as security men to ward off enchroachers on the land.

Alhaji Issa Mohammed said they are fully prepared to cultivate more lands if government provides platform to do so wishing government will come to their aid.

He disclosed that currently there is a threat to send them parking from Tejuosho around the Railway line.

For Abdullahi Abubakar who leads the farmers in Ojo axis said they have no doubt about the intentions of the commissioner to work with them.

He said the commissioner has knowledge about their challenges as a field person adding they have 1,400 farmers in Ojo axis.

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

He cited the case of fertilisers in which the prices changed from #3,000 to #3,500 within 24 hours noting they hardly get support from the state government