Food security: Lagos spends N1.05bn on Lake Rice subsidy
By The Lagos State Government has subsidised lake rice to the tune of N1.05 billion from December 2016 till date, as part of its efforts at ensuring food security and rice sufficiency in the state.
Suarau Oluwatoyin Isiaka, commissioner for Agriculture Lagos State, disclosed this recently at a Ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode third year in office.
The commissioner noted that the subsidy include cost of transportation, bagging and difference in cost of production, stating that the subsidy has helped in preventing prices of rice in the state from skyrocketing
Suarau stated that the state government has also embarked on the establishment of 32 tonnes per hour rice mill at Imota, which will create over 274,000 jobs across the entire rice value chain in the state.
He said in implementation of the State Government’s Development Policy, the state Ministry of Agriculture is mandated to facilitate sustainable food production, create jobs and poverty reduction through several agricultural projects and programmes.
According to him, in an effort to ensure continuous supply of lake rice, the state has completed arrangement to establish a 32TPH rice mill at Imota, which will require the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of land for paddy supply, adding that the State signed an agreement with Bugler AG for acquisition of the equipment.
He hinted that the rice mill will require the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of land for paddy supply, which will provide a platform for the State to partner with other South West States in rice cultivation besides existing collaboration with Kebbi State.
On the agricultural value chain empowerment, he said farmers, fishermen, fish farmers, butchers and processors were provided necessary agric inputs, productive assets and capacity building that will ensure steady food production and supply to the citizens.
“A total of 1,500 farmers and marketers across the five Administration Divisions of the State benefited from the last edition of the programme with multiplier effect on job creation, livelihood sustenance and increased food productivity,” Suarau said
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