Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday inaugurated a newly constructed middle-level Fresh Food Agro-Hub, at Idi-Oro in Mushin area of the state.
He said the facility would help to mitigate the 50 per cent post-harvest losses, and reduce carbon emissions.
Sanwo-Olu also launched N750 million market trader moni initiative.
From the amount, N50,000 will be given to 15,000 traders across the local governments and LCDAs.
He said 250 beneficiaries would be selected in each of the local government/LCDA.
The Mid-Level Agro-produce Hub at Idi-Oro, Mushin, the governor said, was the first in the state, heralding a turning point in the food distribution system.
The facility, he added, is sited on 6,400sq.m of land, with adequate car/truck parking area, and with centralised dry and cold storage systems, giving the market players the economies of scale to make decent profits.
According to him, the hub will pave the way for the modernisation, reorganisation and presentation of state-of-the-art data-driven food and agriculture systems where players and actors in the marketing chain interact freely.
“This will also address prevailing market challenges of inadequate infrastructure; food shortage; high degree of fragmentation and standardisation,” the governor noted
He said the government adopted the Food System Transformation Agenda as a measure to improve the current system, which is inundated by wastage, post-harvest losses, traffic congestion and other inefficiencies that result in the loss of over 50 per cent of agricultural produce, especially in perishables.
He said: “This transformation journey is hinged on our five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021-2026), which reflects our passionate commitment to boosting food production, processing and marketing. The roadmap sets the stage for direct interventions, strategic collaborations and the establishment of linkages with the private sector, financial institutions, foreign governments and multilateral agencies.”
He reiterated that the agenda categorised the Food System into the Central Logistics Hub, Mid-level Agro-produce Hub, and the Last Mile Food Distribution outlets.
“This demonstrates our resolve to follow through with the Agenda, the construction of the Central Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe is ongoing, while the smallest of the pilot, the mid-level Agro-produce Hub, is being inaugurated today. This will be followed with the construction of additional three Hubs at Agege, Ajah and Abule-Ado axis of the state. In all, the plan is to construct 50 Mid-Level Agro produce Hubs across the state
He mentioned other initiatives towards helping the state attain the goal of meeting 40 per cent of Lagos State’s food requirements by 2025 to include the groundbreaking of Eko Agro Mechanisation Programme, the innovative tractor-hailing application, the establishment of a 32 tonns/hour Lagos Rice Mill at Imota, the enterprise development for women and youth in poultry production, piggery, aquaculture, apiculture (beekeeping), horticulture, and artisanal fishing.
He said the efforts continue to yield the desired result in increased food production.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said the facility would help get farmers’ produce to market quickly and efficiently, reducing food waste, boosting profits and creating jobs.
According to her, the government is taking steps to improve agricultural efficiency, boost farmers’ incomes and drive real environmental and economic change.
Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Emmanuel Bamigboye, said the food hub was aimed at reducing vulnerability to food shortage and guaranteeing uninterrupted food supply at cheaper prices, to residents of the state.
Bamigboye thanked the governor for constructing the facility in the local government, saying it would have direct impact on the lives of the market men and women.
“I am a bit overwhelmed with joy in celebrating the inauguration of this facility by Mr Governor, which is the first agricultural hub to be constructed in Mushin by the state government.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration has made a giant stride in the area of agriculture. With the inauguration of this agro-hub today, there will be a great encouragement in global food processing business, enhancements of employment opportunity for youths in agricultural sector.
“It will also attract many to agro-business and processing, due to high demand for consumer food products, and also bring economic development to Mushin and its environs,” he said.
Chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area Rasaq Ajala thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for giving Mushin a great gift.
He promised that the people of Mushin would own the project and make it worthwhile.
He reiterated his saying that Mushin is populated with good people than the image many outside the area had.
