27th January, 2024
Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture on Saturday commenced a fresh food fair at the newly constructed middle-level Agro produce hub, located at Idi-Oro in the Mushin area of the State.
The food hub, which was established by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration as one of the direct answers to the question of food insecurity and sustainability plaguing the country, was busy with business activities on Saturday as farmers and consumers participated actively in the fresh food fair.
During the fresh food fair, farmers and consumers, who are Lagos residents commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for the initiative, which according to them will improve the productivity of farmers and provide the opportunity for Lagos residents to have access to fresh farm produce.
Speaking during the fresh food fair, the General Manager of Lagos State Coconut Development Authority, Mr. Dapo Olakulehin, said the Lagos State Government has created an enabling environment and a good market for farmers to sell their produce through the fresh food fair.
Olakulehin, while assuring the public of quality control, disclosed that there are agriculture officers attached to all the value chains who do the quality control of all the products on display at the fresh food fair.
He said: “Today (Saturday) is the commencement of the fresh food produce fair that is being organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture. The idea is to bring the farmers who are producing different fresh products in Lagos State to come and display their agricultural produce.
“The fair will improve the economy of the people. As a Lagosian, if you buy something worth N2,000 to N50,000 using a MoMo account, you get a 10 percent discount. That is empowerment to the citizens in general. If you buy 25kg rice at N26,500, you will get a 10 percent discount if you pay with a MoMo account immediately. The same thing goes for all the items.
“We have created an enabling environment and a good market for our farmers to sell their produce through the fresh food fair. The money is being circulated in Lagos; you produce in Lagos and sell in Lagos. That is the idea. This fair will be coming up for the next 20 Saturdays; every Saturday till the end of July. Today is the first day; next week Saturday some farmers will also be here.
“My message to Lagos State farmers is that this fresh food fair is a golden opportunity for them to participate in the fair. They should get in touch with the Ministry of Agriculture on how to participate in the fair so that they will bring out their fresh products to display for people to know that Lagos is also producing most of the fresh agricultural produce. And because of the 10 percent discount for the consumers, the farmers are sure that people will buy the products they display.”
Some of the farmers who took part in the fresh food fair praised the Lagos State Government for providing an enabling environment for them to sell their produce directly to consumers at a good price.
Mrs. Chinaza Asonye, who is a rice, fish, poultry and mushrooms farmer, said: “The Fresh Food Hub provides an opportunity for farmers in Lagos State to showcase what they have been farming in Lagos State and to also get off-takers that will off-take their produce. The produce here is direct from the farmers from the farms.
“The market will be held every Saturday from today and you can rest assured that you will get all the produce you want to buy here and you will buy at an affordable price because it is from the farmers’ gate at farmers’ price and not from a middle man. Whatever you are buying here, you will be sure that you are buying a profitable product.
“People have been patronising us. This is a beautiful venture for farmers in Lagos State. What the Lagos State Government has done now, would give the farmers a big relief that whatever you want to farm in Lagos State and you want to produce anything in Lagos State, you can rest assured that when you come to the Food hub to showcase your produce, consumers will buy.”
Also speaking, a trader from Mile 2 International Market, Mukaila Saliu also commended the fresh food initiative. “We see this place as a new market. We came here to sell our goods. We have tomatoes, rodo, bawa, garlic, Irish potato and carrot. We brought many farms produce here. This place is very good and we want more people to join us and patronize this market.
“I feel good coming here. The market is moving fine. We appreciate the Lagos State Government for the food hub and what it is doing for us. This is very fantastic. This shows that we have a government that can assist us in improving our market. We really appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he said.
A businesswoman and consumer, Mrs. Judith Ebun, who bought farm products during the food fair expressed her satisfaction. “My experience here is really fantastic. I enjoyed all the things I bought. The prices are well subsidised. The fresh food fair is really nice and it is a good initiative. I learned it is every Saturday for now. So, I am sure by next week Saturday, I will be here again for my shopping.
“Someone told me to come for the fresh food fair and I decided to come in and see what is happening here. Getting here, I loved what I saw. I have bought enough onions and tomatoes. I also bought a bag of rice and ororo. I love the things I bought and the prices are nice. They are really subsidised. The government is trying. This is a good initiative,” she said.
Also speaking, the General Secretary Poultry Association in Lagos State, Mr. Foluso Adams, expressed his satisfaction with the food hub and urged the Lagos State Government to build more hubs in different parts of the State.
He said: “The fair is what other states can tap into because it will improve commerce. It is a good concept. I will urge the state government to do more in different localities and some other states can also partner or emulate this. Farmers are being encouraged that their product one way or the other would be sold. There is a good car park and security. The environment is serene and peaceful. It is what we want.
“The Lagos State Government has done very well and we can only applaud them for giving us an enabling environment. They should not make it only this place alone. Lagos is very big; government should build another food hub in Badagry, Epe and other localities so that more farmers and consumers can benefit from agricultural programmes like this.”