South-West States Renew Commitment Toward Economic Integration, Vow to Tackle Food Crisis Head-On

The states in the South-Western part of the country have renewed their full commitment to the economic prosperity and integration of the region.

This was revealed at a strategic partnership meeting held at the office of the Secretary to the State Government in Alausa, Ikeja, among the state Commissioners for Agriculture and Food Systems in the region.

The DAWN Commission was set up by the governments of the South-West states of the country as the institutional and program management body to facilitate their Regional Integration Agenda.

It is fully empowered by the governments to ensure the delivery of the composite development aspirations of the region, as expressed in what has been generally adopted and known as the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).

While welcoming colleagues from other states in the South-West, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, described the forum as timely and added that they are set to collaborate with neighboring states to enhance rice production, processing, and marketing.

According to her, this will ultimately improve food security not just in the South-West but across the country.

She further explained that the collaboration aims to leverage each state’s strengths to boost agricultural growth, with Lagos serving as a key market for the rice produced, ultimately contributing to economic prosperity and improved food security in the region.

Her Ogun State counterpart, Bola Owotomo, disclosed that the state provided interventions to rice farmers in clusters of fifty to two hundred, who also enjoyed a 25% discount for clearing their farmlands.

He stated that aside from the support with modern equipment, the farmers were exposed to financial literacy, capacity building, and the application of insecticides on the farms.

He was, however, of the view that the DAWN Commission should escalate the security challenge, which had led to some farmers abandoning their farms, to the governors.

Another area begging for attention is the increased supply of modern equipment to ease the enormous difficulties encountered by farmers.

Also speaking, the Osun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Tola Faselu, applauded the commitment of the Southwest governors to agriculture, adding that the renewed partnership will boost job opportunities and food production.

He, however, noted that the new administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke met no single working tractor on the ground but swiftly initiated programs to change the narrative.

On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, said the availability of paddy had posed a challenge to the Lagos Imota Rice Mills working at full capacity.

He said he would be glad to see the Southwest provide up to 40% of the approximately 200,000 tonnes of paddy needed at the rice mills.

Dr. Fashola was optimistic that the renewed partnership would help the region overcome the challenge of paddy, noting that although Ekiti remains the highest producer of rice in the region, the news about Ogun coming on board was inspiring.

In his words, the Managing Director of Lagos Commodity and Futures Exchange, Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale, declared that they had a high volume of trade in paddy with the north, including Kebbi and Adamawa states, and hoped states in the region would take full advantage to empower their own.

Commissioners from Ekiti State joined the strategic partnership meeting via Zoom, while Ondo was represented.