Speeches

2008 State Agricultural Show And World Food Day As Part Of The Second Agricultural Week Celebration

Oct 16, 2008 - It is my pleasure to be with you today at this very important occasion which marks another milestone in our efforts towards ensuring Food Security in Lagos State. On this day, the 16th of October, 2008 set aside to celebrate the World Food Day, global attention is focused on the need for universal food security. The recent global food crisis occasioned by food shortages and economic crisis has alerted countries on the need for a new and integrated approach to food production and agro-allied business in order to enhance and sustain food security.

As nations strive to confront the various challenges confronting them in their programme to feed their citizens and attain food security, the issue of climate change and Bio – energy have taken the front burner in recent times. It is therefore not surprising that the theme for this year World Food Day celebration is “Food Security- Challenges of Climate Change and Bio-energy”.

Global Food security has deteriorated since 1995 and increase in food production and supply appears to be proceeding too slowly to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving hunger by year 2015. Three major challenges are seriously threatening to drastically complicate efforts to overcome food insecurity and malnutrition. These are climate change, the growing use of food crops as a source of fuel and soaring food prices.

The rising demand for bio-energy is likely to affect nutrition through a number of ways. First, production of staple food crops, particularly maize and other cereals for biofuel markets would definitely have a negative impact on the availability of grains for direct consumption as food and as feed for livestock to produce meat and milk. As demand for biofuels is likely to remain high and to be met with food crops in the forseeable future, this may lead to the clearing of biodiversity-rich land for cultivation, including tropical forests and wetlands. Burning of forests will mean additional emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) that would further aggravate global warming. Intensified production of energy crops such as sugarcane, as well as increased cereal production to meet competing demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel, may mean excessive or poorly managed use of water and farm chemicals, causing illnesses and deterioration in environmental health, with negative implications for nutrition.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you will recall that during the last electioneering campaign, I promised the people of Lagos State to make Food Security as one of the cardinal programmes in the Ten-Point Development Agenda of the administration. This policy is also an integral part of the Lagos State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy Document (LASEEDS). I want to assure you that our administration will not only strive put in place strategies and programmes to feed the populace, we shall also take a significant stride in ensuring that sustainable agricultural production activities in the State are carried out in a healthy environment through effective service delivery.

In a multidimensional approach to address the problem posed by climate change and enhance food production and security in the State, our administration has initiated several programmes for the benefit of the people. Some of these programmes include:-
• Climate change club among secondary school students to encourage them to plant trees.
• “Green Lagos Campaign” to beautify the State and restore our environment.
• Tree planting campaign with a target of 1million trees per annum and the promotion of urban forestry to improve the eco-balance in the State.
• Rehabilitation of Coconut belt through the establishment of a 20 hectare Seed garden for the commencement of 13,000 hectares Coconut rehabilitation programme in collaboration with the FAO.
• The establishment of Marine Agriculture- this includes commencement of fish farming in open natural water bodies at pilot stage in six locations and the diversification of culturable fish species, thereby creating employment in the rural communities of the State.
• Establishment of the largest Fish Farm Estate in Nigeria at Araga, Poka, Epe Area of the State in collaboration with the private sector.
• Introduction of the “Eko Meat Van” for wholesome mode of meat transportation in the State to complement efforts through the rehabilitated abattoir at Oko-Oba, Agege to prevent zoonotic diseases.
• Proposed establishment of 3 new modern mechanised abattoirs at Ologe to service Badagry division, Epe to service the Lekki axis and Epe Division as well as Ajegunle to serve the Lagos Central axis.
• Re-development of Araga Training Institute, Epe towards modern Agricultural training of Youth as well as the “Rice for Job” project at Itokin in Epe LGA and Itoga in Badagry LGA which has engaged about 200 youths in rice cultivation.

These programmes are just some of the initiatives of this administration to address the issue of food security and improve the ecosystem in collaboration with the private sector. Under such enabling environment, our farmers and agro-allied practitioners will be encouraged to deploy their expertise in partnership with the government to ensure sustainable food production and supply.

I wish to urge all Farmers, Agro-Allied Practitioners and the general public to participate in these viable agribusiness programmes highlighted above.

I assure you that the Government will continue to provide the enabling environment for your investment to grow and be profitably rewarding.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to use this opportunity to inform you that the era of commercial agriculture in Lagos State has arrived. The State would soon conclude agreement with the World Bank to participate in the $137 million “Commercial Agriculture Development Project” meant for only five states in the Federation selected on merit.

I am also happy to note the satisfactory performance of the State under the $7 million (N945 million) World Bank assisted FADAMA II project that made the State to beg the “Regional Excellence Award” as the best implemented project in West Africa to the State.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me once again assure you that this administration would fulfil all its obligation towards ensuring the successful implementation of Fadama III project for the benefit of our teeming farmers.

I congratulate the Ministry and all the farmers and fisher folks on this occasion. I assure you of government support at all times.

In conclusion, I want to thank you all for your support, understanding and being there for us. I congratulate you for this splendid show and pray for continued sustenance of this giant stride in agricultural development in Lagos State.

Thank you and God bless.

Eko o ni baje o!

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State