1,531 processing and producing farmers in the state have received various agricultural assets through the Lagos COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (Lagos-CARES).
The assets would be transferred to individuals and farmers’ groups, according to Mr. Jonathan Obayemi, the state project coordinator for FADAMA, who was speaking at the distribution on Tuesday at the Lagos Farm Service Centre in Agege.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the scheme is a tripartite arrangement involving the Federal Government, 36 State Governments, and the World Bank.
He claims that the exercise is a component of the state government’s efforts to lessen the effects of COVID-19 and the elimination of gasoline subsidies.
“This empowerment programme aims to support farmers following the COVID-19 pandemic as well as lessen the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies.”
“Today, all we are doing is continuing to pay beneficiaries under the Lagos CARES initiative through the Lagos State FADAMA coordinating office, which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to him, the Lagos-CARES plan has so far benefited 10,000 farmers with productive and processing assets. “Today, we are disbursing to over 1,531 beneficiaries,” he stated.
Obayemi stated that the 13,943 beneficiaries of the Lagos CARES scheme, who were selected from 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas, would receive assistance with inputs and an improvement programme for the farm infrastructure.
However, the project coordinator pointed out that over 10,000 farmers have directly benefited from the programme to date, and more would be shortlisted and supported in the following phase.
“Our goal is to directly serve 13,943 people. So far, we have been able to directly contact around 10,000 people, he said.
Obayemi said that the ongoing Lagos CARES programme had indirectly benefited more than 100,000 families.
The assets dispersed, according to him, are: 50 Battery cages, 27 water tanks, 83 fish tanks, 153 water pumps, 10 submersible, 2 surface, 6 water hose, 12 motorised sprayers, 68 gas burners, 68 gas cylinders, 5 smoking kilns, 9 deep freezers and 9 generators.
He urged the recipients to use the farm assets wisely and added that the results would be seen in their overall production.
The group leaders were urged by the programme coordinator to distribute the assets fairly among their members.
“I kindly request that you utilise the resources and assistance provided wisely.
“We acknowledge that this is an extremely difficult period for our nation, but I can reassure Lagos citizens that thanks to this intervention and other initiatives launched by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government, the cost of food will start to fall.
“I applaud all of our stakeholders for their support, and I thank our farmer community associations for their collaboration and tenacity because I think farmers deserve praise for their efforts to put food on the table.
He urged people to wisely use the resources to increase food production, enhance their standard of living after COVID-19, and lessen the effects of the loss of fuel subsidies.
However, some recipients praised Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for continuing to promote and empower state farmers.
Bosere Farm Group Chairman Mr. Tai Benedict praised the government for the initiative and urged them to do more to support farmers.
Benedict confirmed that the group received 10 motorised sprayers for agriculture pest management.
“Since we pay taxes, the government ought to do more to assist us so that we can increase food production.
“The resources received will aid our members in their battle against pest infestation during planting season.”
Additionally, Mrs. Afusat Suleimon, Chairman, Alubarikaloju Fish Processing Group, Eputu, Ibeju-Lekki, praised the government for the assistance and called it “lifesaving.”
According to Sulaimon, the ten-person group was given a Deep Freezer, a generator, smoking kilns, and an industrial scale.
The assets received, according to her, will improve members’ quality of life while boosting production.
“We lost a lot, our businesses collapsed, and many of our members still haven’t recovered,” she said of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She continued by saying that the farm assets will enable the group members expand their enterprises and give them the chance to export their goods.
