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Lagos Begins Series of Activities On World Food Day, Set To Deploy Technologies For All-Year Farming Season

The Lagos State Government has today commenced a-six-day activities to mark this year’s World Food Day.

The World Food Day is observed annually in the October 16.

At a news briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, signifying the commencement of the activities, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, listed the lined up events to include a road walk/sensitization from Ikeja to Alausa Secretariat, an interactive forum between the Ministry, farmers and other stakeholders at the Imota Farm settlement in Ikorodu, Ofada Day symposium for the promotion of local varieties of rice, quiz competition for students in secondary schools and the grand finale on the designated World Food Day, October 16, at the Johnson Agiri Agric Complex in Oko-Oba, Agege.

Ms Olusanya said the State is working towards the deployment of technologies that would enable farmers farm all year round to achieve food security and self sufficiency in the State and Nigeria as a whole.

She explained that an all year farming season would ensure that the State attains the desired sustainable agri-food systems and the theme of this year’s World Good Day captures this.

“The theme of this year’s World Food Day Celebration is Our Actions are our Future: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life. This year’s theme is indeed apt as its focuses on the efforts being made by the State Government in ensuring that a variety of sufficient, nutritious and safe foods are available at affordable prices to everyone. This is what makes a sustainable agri-food system.
“The way we produce and consume food exacts a heavy toll on our planet, putting unnecessary pressure on natural resources, the environment and climate. Food production often degrades or destroys natural habitats and contributes to species extinction.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined that an urgent change of route is needed. Reflecting on the pandemic and taking into cognizance the change and the effect it has had on Agriculture and our social life, this Administration, under the able leadership of our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is focusing intensely on the various technologies that will enable farmers to farm all year round and provide food security and safety in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole, giving the sustainable agri-food systems needed by the State,” she noted

The Commissioner pointed out that new policies that would foster the sustainable production of affordable nutritious foods and promote farmers’ participation are been adopted with the expectation that the policies would promote equality and learning, drive innovation, boost rural incomes, offer safety nets to smallholder farmers and build climate resistance.

She added that multiple linkages between areas affecting food systems including health, education, energy, finance, social protection among other would also be reconsidered with a view to making solutions fit together.

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