Lagos to raise 1,700 agric entrepreneurs

The Lagos State Government has started screening over 2,000 applicants for support in small and medium scale agriculture.

According to the state, the initiative is aimed at raising about 1,700 agro-entrepreneurs to boost the state’s agricultural economy in a multi-phased process.

The exercise, under the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project of the Ministry of Agriculture was inaugurated by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, in Ikeja, Lagos.

Lawal said the initiative was programmed to upscale farmers in the state, as well as provide linkage for them to the markets for distribution of their produce.

He said, “The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is in full support of this initiative of employment and income generation through agricultural technology innovation for youth and women in the state who are active and ready to improve their livelihoods through agriculture.

“The scheme is targeted at helping women and youth agro-entrepreneurs, who are going to be empowered to achieve the objectives of meeting the food demands of over 20 million markets ready for them.”

The Project Operations Manager, Dr Salisu Garba, said apart from youths and women who would be funded under the APPEALS project, the state had also made provision for 10 per cent inclusion of persons with disabilities who were ready to earn a living through farming.