Lagos Unveils 5-Year Agriculture Roadmap
Lagos State Government has announced its plan to revolutionize the state’s agricultural value-chain through a roadmap for the next 5 years. According to the governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, the state expects to receive in excess of 10 billion dollars in the next 5 years with the launch of the new roadmap. The governor clarified that most of the expected investment rounds will be driven by the state’s private sector and agricultural stakeholders.
Lagos can no longer depend on other states for its food production, according to the governor. At the moment, agriculture contributes only 2% to the state’s Gross Domestic Porduct (GDP). Per the new roadmap, Lagos plans to be self-reliant in terms of food and meat production in order to promote food security for her residents.
The 5-year roadmap is a blueprint that shows the government’s vision for the sector and the infrastructure it plans to provide to secure the investments of her potential and current agricultural stakeholders. In the state governor’s speech, Babajide Sanwoolu said part of the state government’s proactive methods to boost Lagos’ agricultural economy is the Imota Rice Mill construction.
The event had different agricultural stakeholders are the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu and the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Kehinde Joseph.
The agricultural roadmap has myriad benefits for the state and her residents. Some of these benefits are increased employment opportunities, wealth creation, economic diversification, food security, increased agricultural mechanization in the state’s sector.