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<\/p>\nThe Lagos State Government has launched a three-day capacity-building workshop on poultry production and management under the \u201cChicks to Plate\u201d project, aimed at strengthening the poultry value chain, improving food security and empowering farmers across the state.<\/p>\n
The programme, organised by the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) in collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), will train 200 prospective and practising poultry farmers in modern broiler and layer production techniques.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Mr. Emmanuel Audu, said the initiative demonstrated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to agricultural transformation, food security, economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood development.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Audu described the programme as another milestone in the eight-year partnership between LSADA and BATNF, which began in 2018 with the \u201cFingerlings to Fork\u201d project.<\/p>\n
According to him, the aquaculture-focused initiative trained 1,436 fish farmers between 2018 and 2025, equipping them with skills in fish hatchery production, processing, packaging, value addition, export opportunities and farm management.<\/p>\n
He said 202 farmers were trained in 2018, 196 in 2019, 203 in 2020, 214 in 2021, 210 in 2023, 207 in 2024 and 204 in 2025.<\/p>\n
Beyond training, Audu said the partnership had also provided beneficiaries with modern production equipment to enhance their businesses.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that 10 250kg-capacity fish smoking kilns had been presented to 10 groups of fish processors, while 125 individual fish processors received 50kg-capacity smoking kilns. In addition, 40 collapsible tarpaulin fish ponds measuring 4ft by 4ft by 3ft were provided to 40 grow-out fish farmers across the state.<\/p>\n
He explained that the smoking kilns were equipped with oil extraction technology and dual heat sources using gas and charcoal, adding that the innovation had promoted cleaner and more efficient fish processing, reduced post-harvest losses and improved the income-earning potential of beneficiaries.<\/p>\n
Audu said the success recorded under the \u201cFingerlings to Fork\u201d project informed the decision to expand the partnership into poultry production through the \u201cChicks to Plate\u201d initiative.<\/p>\n
He described the move as timely, noting that poultry production remained one of the fastest ways to increase the availability of affordable animal protein while creating jobs and improving household incomes.<\/p>\n
He said the sector also offered significant opportunities for youth engagement, women empowerment and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder this initiative, 200 prospective and practising poultry farmers drawn from across Lagos State will receive intensive practical training on modern poultry production and management, covering both broiler and layer enterprises,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Audu added that 40 layer production farmers would be selected from the 200 participants for additional empowerment support to enhance their enterprises.<\/p>\n
He said the beneficiaries were selected from LSADA\u2019s farmers\u2019 database to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and continuity in the state\u2019s agricultural development programmes.<\/p>\n
The Permanent Secretary noted that Nigeria\u2019s demand for poultry products continued to exceed domestic production, while Lagos, with its rapidly growing population, accounted for a significant proportion of poultry consumption.<\/p>\n
He said the situation presented an opportunity to increase local production, reduce dependence on imported poultry products, strengthen food security and stimulate economic growth.<\/p>\n
According to him, equipping farmers with modern production techniques, improved management practices, effective biosecurity measures and agribusiness skills would enhance productivity, improve product quality, create sustainable employment opportunities and increase household incomes.<\/p>\n
He said the initiative was also aligned with the Lagos State Government\u2019s THEMES+ Development Agenda, particularly its focus on making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, economic diversification, food security, youth empowerment and sustainable environmental management.<\/p>\n
Audu commended BATNF for its continued partnership and investment in agricultural development, describing the collaboration as an example of how public-private partnerships could deliver measurable socio-economic benefits to farmers.<\/p>\n
He also praised the management and staff of LSADA for their dedication to improving farmers\u2019 livelihoods through innovative programmes and extension services.<\/p>\n
The Permanent Secretary called on development partners, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations to collaborate with the Lagos State Government on initiatives aimed at strengthening food systems, improving nutrition, generating employment and promoting inclusive economic growth.<\/p>\n
He also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his leadership and commitment to agricultural transformation, saying the administration\u2019s investment in agriculture was creating new opportunities for farmers, agripreneurs and the private sector.<\/p>\n
Audu urged participants to take full advantage of the training and translate the knowledge and practical skills acquired into productive enterprises that would contribute to increased poultry production and improved livelihoods.<\/p>\n
The Programme Manager, LSADA, Mrs. Aderonke Toju-Tubi, said the \u201cChicks to Plate\u201d project represented another milestone in the Authority\u2019s efforts to equip farmers with knowledge, practical skills and modern production techniques required to establish resilient and profitable agribusinesses.<\/p>\n
Toju-Tubi said LSADA, as the agricultural extension arm of the Lagos State Government under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, was mandated to promote sustainable agricultural development through technology dissemination, capacity building, advisory services and farmer empowerment.<\/p>\n
She said the \u201cChicks to Plate\u201d project was a continuation of the successful partnership between LSADA and BATNF, which commenced with the establishment of fish hatchery and fish processing capacity-building facilities under the \u201cFingerlings to Fork\u201d project.<\/p>\n
According to her, the impact assessment conducted through joint monitoring visits by LSADA and BATNF showed that beneficiaries of previous interventions had recorded improvements in productivity, income generation and business expansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese success stories underscore the value of strategic partnerships in promoting sustainable agricultural development and economic empowerment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Toju-Tubi explained that the rebranding of the initiative from \u201cFingerlings to Fork\u201d to \u201cChicks to Plate\u201d was designed to address challenges confronting smallholder poultry farmers while supporting the state government\u2019s efforts to increase local poultry production, improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.<\/p>\n
She disclosed that 200 poultry farmers engaged in broiler and layer production would participate in the current training, with 40 participants to be selected for empowerment support at the end of the programme.<\/p>\n
The Programme Manager appreciated BATNF for its continued support for agricultural development and food security in Lagos State, while expressing the Authority\u2019s readiness to strengthen the partnership and welcome similar collaborations with other development partners and non-governmental organisations.<\/p>\n
She urged the participants to actively participate in the training sessions and apply the knowledge acquired to establish and expand successful poultry enterprises.<\/p>\n
Toju-Tubi said their success would not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute to the growth of the poultry industry and the wider agricultural economy of Lagos State.<\/p>\n
On his part, the General Manager of the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Mr. Oludara Odusanya, disclosed that the training was a great honour and a strategic partnership aimed at boosting food production in the state.<\/p>\n
Represented by the Project Officer, Adetola Oniyelu, Odusanya also charged the participants to take full advantage of the training by sharing ideas, building networks and developing an ecosystem that would make a remarkable difference in the state.<\/p>\n
The current training for 200 poultry farmers, which is expected to hold at three different centres, will be a major addition to the 1,436 fish farmers who benefited from previous training programmes conducted between 2018 and 2025 across the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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