Ex-commissioner urges Lagosians to adopt urban agriculture

A former Commissioner for Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, Mr Agboola Dabiri has urged residents of the state to embrace urban system of farming.

Mr Dabiri stated this in a keynote address at an agriculture empowerment programme tagged “Farm and Profit” on Sunday.

The programme was organised by members of Ajowa Community Development Association in Surulere area of Lagos state, in collaboration with Africanfarmer.

He maintained that urban farming holds the possibility of creating better and enhanced livelihood. He added that its practice also reduces household expenses on food related items.

The ex-commissioner exclaimed, ”I don’t know the last time I bought lemon in Abuja. What I did was, I planted seeds in an old sack and that is what I have been using in my home.

“In Masha, here in Surulere, we have the biggest fruit farmers in Lagos. They are very organised and you can also join them by simply identifying where you belong.

He added, “Also, in Surulere, we have one of the largest ram market and I am a member, because I also rear animals.

“You have to look at where you belong and explore all the potential in agriculture. During the last Ileya festival, I sold rams and I made profits, you too can do that. Agric is very profitable.

“I buy my ram myself; rear it my self and give it to my boys to sell during festival. I have already started rearing ram against next festival.

“Residents  of Surulere must come together and see how they can promote urban farming and contribute to the food self-sufficiency of the state,” he said.

Mogaji, also enjoined people in the urban area to embrace agriculture by way of processing, marketing, distribution, packaging, haulaging and production.

He stated majority of people in the South-West zone were consumers of agricultural produce and not generating enough income from agriculture, because of lack of understanding.

“There are a lot of opportunities in agriculture that remain untapped and  people need to look beyond farming,” he said.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of food emergency is an opportunity for many agribusiness to thrive because a lot of policies will be introduced that will be beneficial to farmers.

“Partnerships and collaborations is the new agribusiness that farmers must embrace.

“Enough of criticising the government. It is time to collaborate with government to achieve great things and improve food production.

“Opportunities are enormous but farmers must know how to get it, people need to know how to tap into every government policy,” he said.

Mogaji asserted that the whole essence was to embrace grassroots farming as the new norm.

“It is almost 10 years that I have been reaching out to the CDA and this is a new executive and we are continuing.

“We need to begin to groom people from grassroots into agriculture. If local government embraces  agriculture, we will feed the nation.

“They own lands; they have the people; what we need is resources. Surulere is a major area that we can leverage to distribute farm produce.

(NAN)