Metro Lagos Has Spent N1bn on Graduate Farmers- Commisioner

Bolanle Akanji

Moderator
Lagos State Government on Sunday said it had spent no less than N1billion to support an estimated 400 graduate farmers to set up their own farms.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said in Lagos that the beneficiaries were those trained under the state’s Agricultural Youths Empowerment Scheme(AGRIC-YES).

“The support is to give them a headstart in their farming businesses.

“We are currently operating a modern farm settlement scheme in Araga, Epe area of Lagos, where graduates are trained in different areas of agriculture under our AGRIC-YES programme.

“No fewer than 400 graduates, divided into four groups, are being exposed to practical and sustainable ways of practising aquaculture, poultry and crop cultivation, among others, using modern, fully automated equipment,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the programme is expected to create a generation of modern farmers, while creating job opportunities and promoting food security.

“In the last one year, the state government has spent more than N1billion in form of inputs, tractors, cash and other essentials, to enable the graduates set up their own farms,” he said.

Lawal said that the programme was fully residential, adding that the government recently inaugurated 200 units of two-bedroom apartments at the programme site, to improve the living standards of participants.

He said AGRIC YES was one of the efforts of government to demonstrate that it was committed to ensuring food security in the state.
 

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