The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture has trained and empowered 500 Rice Farmers across the State as part of efforts to increase rice production.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said that the initiative was designed to boost rice production and improve its nutritional values.

Announcing that the programme would be extended to other rice farmers across Lagos State, the Commissioner said: “This training will bring about standardised farming techniques and ensure high quality of rice production to effectively compete with international standards. The high consumption of imported rice by Nigerians is bound to reduce if local rice production is of the same or higher quality and value”.

She maintained that the Knapsack Sprayer, Fertilizer and Faro 44 Rice Seedlings given to all the 500 participants will aid an increase in rice production and advised the beneficiaries to practice all they learnt in the training programme.

Also delivering an address at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, averred that the Lagos State Government has invested so much to develop the production of high-quality rice across the State, noting that over 1000 youths in Lagos had also been empowered in the past through training in modern rice farming techniques.

Dr. Fashola recalled that Lagos had established partnerships with northern states to boost production of rice farming that would translate into employment opportunities and increased revenue.

He said the training programme focused on the Production, Processing and Packaging of EKO OFADA Rice and EKO Rice.
Noting that the training was part of the strategy to make locally produced rice available in large quantities in Lagos, Dr. Fashola said the 12,000 tonne-capacity Imota Rice Mill would also facilitate the production of commercial quantity rice on completion by December 2022.

The Honourable Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, delivered a goodwill message, imploring the 500 beneficiaries to justify Lagos State’s investment by ensuring that rice produced locally meets international standards.