Lagos Decries Dearth Of Credible Farm Records

The Lagos State Government has decried the dearth of credible records and insurance policies at the farm and state levels.

It said the near total loss situation in many farms across the state was worsen by the absence of proper record keeping of livestock in the farms, saying this was occasioned by the fears of farmers to present accurate records because of peer group effect and tax purposes.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal said this at the Stakeholders’ Workshop on the importance of data bank and early warning system in Livestock industry in Agege, Lagos, South West Nigeria.

He said the workshop would enable stakeholders appreciate the creation of data bank and putting in place early warning system in the livestock industry that would prevent any major outbreak or curtailment of same in the state.

The commissioner lamented that the nation’s political history, including the agricultural sector had been bedevilled with series of problems which was due largely to poor planning occasioned by dearth of reliable baseline data.

“Data generation and update is therefore necessary to decide policy actions which might affect the whole industry and its expansion. Timely and good data can come from all stakeholders timely for decision making at the government level,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that livestock industry remained relevant and crucial in the state in terms of food security and unemployment of the citizens, lamenting that the industry had been devastated in recent years by diseases and pests.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Dr. Olajide Basorun said Lagos had comparative advantage in livestock production and used to have the highest poultry population in the country.

“The situation today is different largely due to influx of diseases and pests from neighbouring state and countries, saying that the outbreaks experienced in the last few years in the state included the Avian Influenza for poultry and African swine fever which could prevented if all hands were on deck,” he said.

According to him, the workshop was timely in view of the major repositioning of the industry as a major contributor to food security, poverty alleviation and job creation