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Tag: “Lake Rice”

  • Agric: WANEP, Oxfam organise workshop for stakeholders

    Agric: WANEP, Oxfam organise workshop for stakeholders

    The West Africa Network For Peace Building (WANEP) in collaboration with (OXFAM) has organised a one-day sensitization workshop for key stakeholders in the Agricultural sector in Kebbi state.

    In his opening remarks while declaring the workshop open the Permanent Secretary kebbi state ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Muhammed Lawal Shau said Agriculture is the only way and avenue in the world that can sustain human resource adding that if Nigerian government depends on crude oil alone it may not be able to pay workers salaries across the country.

    He, however, commended the kebbi state government in the area of Agriculture  particularly the mass production of Rice through the Anchor Borrowers scheme and the Lagos kebbi  MOU on Lake Rice, he said if other state governors can emulate kebbi state  Nigerian will survive and creates more jobs for the youths.

    He then call on government at all level to show sincerity to support small scale farmers, adding that these farmers face numerous challenges yet they produce most of what we eat in Nigeria. Alhaji Shau lamented that farmers do not get the much needed access to land, credit, input and extension support.

    The Permanent Secretary noted that climate change is making the matters worse this in turn leads to crop failure he, therefor, urged the government to walk the talk on Agriculture by increasing the quantity and quality of allocation to agriculture as the 2018 budget is been prepared.

    Meanwhile the kebbi state coordinator OXFAM MR Olumide OJO said the meeting is to sensitise zed stakeholders and focus on how to increased investment into Agric and climate change adaptation for small scale farming, he also  said the workshop will also focus on how to increase the participation and accessibility of women in to agricultural produce in kebbi state.

  • Ambode: Leading Nigeria’s rebirth through agric policies

    Ambode: Leading Nigeria’s rebirth through agric policies

    Nigeria will attain sustainable development if there is security of food and serious agricultural development. However, for this to be realised, Lagos State must continue on the path of sustainable food production and agricultural revival.

    Prior to the recent bold collaboration with Kebbi State that brought delight to many homes  during the Yuletide and New Year  through the sale of “Lake Rice”,  the state was producing only 15 per cent of what its people consumed, spending N350 billion on rice importation, half of the bill on the commodity by Nigeria.

    Daily, 6,000 cows are slaughtered at over N3 million, translating to N1, 080,000,000 yearly. Even with its huge population and the high purchasing power of residents, Lagos, with only 350 hectares of cultivable lands, had 53 hectares under cultivation.

    Because of the strategic position of Lagos in Nigeria, one would think Lagos would receive the biggest impact of Nigeria’s socio-economic dislocation. But the state is God has been blessed with visionary and competent leaders.

    Ambode swims against the tide of potential crisis to produce outstanding accomplishments, which have kept Lagos in the forefront of socio-economic and political development.

    Yet, Lagos must produce spectacular results in all sectors, especially in food safety and adequacy and agricultural security. At this period of recession, the first in 20 years in Nigeria, we need leaders who are willing, able and eager to rescue the country, bring us out of recession and restore our glory. Ambode is a shining example of such leaders.

    Through uncommon policies, Ambode has been charting a new path towards achieving self-sufficiency in the food and agricultural sector, complemented by businesses and industrial strategies.

    He created the Office of the Special Adviser on Food Security to, among other things, tackle food insufficiency, provide employment, stimulate relevant business and industrial value chains and fuel accelerated socio-economic growth and development.

    Ambode also seeks to inspire healthy competition and expand mutually rewarding agro-economy collaborations, not only in the states of the Western Region, but in all other states in the country. The Governor believes that when food is adequate, harmonious relationship and peaceful co-existence will reign.

    Ambode’s efforts in developing the agricultural sector can be seen in the proverb that says “don’t give me fish but teach me how to fish”. The empowerment of our people, particularly the youth, women and unemployed through partnership and networking with relevant stakeholders within the state are germane in Ambode’s creative policies.  In the next 2 years, Lagos is poised to scale up food sufficiency from the present 12 per cent to 25 per cent.

    For rice sufficiency in Lagos and for prosperity to her and other collaborating states, Ambode targets all arable lands in Nigeria. “Lake Rice” initiative is a fine example of strategic collaboration, where comparative advantages of partners are combined to produce impressive yield.

    During the Yuletide period, Lagos sold 32,467 bags of 50kg, 32,539 bags of 25kg and 30,780 bags of 10kg “Lake Rice”, produced and bagged by both states.

    Comparative advantage to maximise production is important in the agrarian policy. In alliance with Lagos, Kebbi State brings to the table 600 hectares of arable land, as Ogun State, in Eguaa provides 500 hectares. In the same manner, the state has stepped up rice promotion drive, acquiring lands in other states for cultivation, especially in the South West.

    The governor is determined to reach the maximum limit possible for rice cultivation in Lagos as well. He expanded the Imota Rice Mill to have the capacity of 16 metric tons from 2.5 metric tons; a total of 100 farmers, mostly youths, are engaged in rice production in Epe under FADAMA III project; and in Avia, Badagry, under Agric-YES, every year over 100 youths were trained for six months and practised for six months.

    At the end of their training, they were given loan facility, resources and technical support. Still under Agric-YES in Badagry area, he is fusing socio-cultural realities of the region with agricultural opportunities to maximise gains, by strengthening people’s bond with their lands, building alliances with the people of Soghai, Republic of Benin, promoting entrepreneurship and other economic value chains and encouraging friendship of the people in Badagry and in Benin Republic.

    Coconut has more than 300 derivatives, and in the past, coconut was a major export earner of the State, hence the Coconut Initiative is an area where Lagos still has massive comparative advantage. The Governor is poised to revive and scale up the coconut projects across all the value chains, as 180km stretch of coconut groves are available for planting of 30,000 seedlings, as 3 community-based micro-processing centres have been installed. This move will not only stimulate coconut industry (like in the Philippines where coconut earnings and coconut products can be compared to our receipts from petroleum) but will also improve coastal environment of the region.

    Ambode’s agrarian revolution is far-reaching, involving the entire food and agric-business spectrum. Under the Agric-YES, over 500 youths have been trained in poultry and fish farming. From the first quarter of the year, over 1,500 crates of eggs are being harvested every day, 2, 000 broilers hatched per month and 18 tons of fresh fish harvested per cycle; the Entrepreneurship Centre Initiative provides continuous advisory services to farmers through seasoned representatives in all technical areas of agriculture; there is Estate initiative; there is Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CAPD) initiative – 315 women were trained, 51 of whom were empowered in poultry, rice and aquatic value chain; Agric-Input Supply Initiative and Rural Finance Institution Project (Rufin)-aimed at strengthening the capacity of farmers while increasing access of poor rural farmers to financial services – Agric Programme (SAP) and Cage Culture System. There is Oyo Cattle Fattening partnership in Ejio to address the beef needs of Lagosians.

    Nigeria was once one of the few nations considered as giants in agriculture, in the pre-Independence era and two decades after.

    A nation blessed with clement weather, fantastic river systems and an extensive coast line, our Nigeria was one of the best for habitation. In those periods, foods, vegetables and fruits – fresh from the farms – were affordable.

    From 1960 to 1970, agriculture sustained the Nigerian economy as the main foreign exchange earner, contributing about 76 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country was the largest producer and exporter of palm oil and groundnuts. With the ability to export 47 per cent of her products, Nigeria contributed 18 per cent to the world’s total exports and remained a major force to reckon with in such other cash crops as rubber, cotton, citrus and peanuts.

    • AbdulLateef is Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs

  • Lagos provides helplines for Lake Rice sale

    The Lagos State Government has dedicated two special phone numbers through which residents can make inquiries and channel complaints about availability and sales of Lake Rice.

    The help lines – 08023818565 and 08033058697 – were announced at the weekend by Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau.

    Suarau said it would provide the government “first-hand feedback on happenings at the various sales centres with a view to quickly address grey areas if any.”

    “I must stress that there are people available to listen to complaints, answer enquiries and provide necessary help when needed, all you have to do is to call”, he said

    Suarau explained that a monitoring mechanism is in place to ensure fair sales of the product at all centres on a first-come, first-serve basis, in a rancour-free atmosphere.

    The Commissioner tasked workers at designated sales centres on customer satisfaction, warning that complaints from residents on poor services at any centre will be treated seriously.

    “The state government has made all necessary arrangement to ensure that the product is available during the festive period and beyond”, Suarau added.

  • Eid-El-Kabir:  70 trailer load of Lake Rice arrive Lagos

    Eid-El-Kabir:  70 trailer load of Lake Rice arrive Lagos

    In an effort to ensure even distribution across all the sale centres, the Lagos State Government on Wednesday said that at least 70 trailer load of the LAKE RICE have arrived the State ahead of the commencement of the sale on Thursday.

    The State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Toyin Suarau who spoke to journalists, said that the Government has made adequate arrangement to ensure that Lagosians willing to purchase LAKE RICE can do so without much hassles.

    “This present administration has made the necessary logistics in place. Trailers are coming into the State with the rice. As we speak, there are over 30 trailer loads in Lagos, by Friday it would be about 40, by next week it would be up to 70 trucks and even after the Sallah period, there would be more coming into the State,” the Commissioner said.

    According to him, the Rice would be on sale across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas, saying that the decision was to ensure that residents can get it without travelling far distance.

    He said the rice would also be available at LTV Blue Roof Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, while the prices still remain the same as N12, 000 for 50kg bag, N6,000 for 25kg and N2,500 for 10kg.

    “There is going to be even distribution of the LAKE RICE and that’s why we are using all the Local governments and the Local Council Development Areas.

    “This will ensure wide distribution of the product to as many people who want it. we have made arrangement for the rice to continue to come into the State, so there is no need for panic buy or any form of rush, just go to your local government or local council development area you will get it to buy,” Suarau said.

    Suarau who affirmed that the sale of the LAKE RICE would commence on Thursday, said the State’s Agricultural Development Authority Complex in Oko-Oba, Agege would flag off the sales while other Local Governments centres would follow suit.

    “The Local Government and Local Council Development Areas are the grassroots. Our target is the residents at the grassroots. I may be able to afford rice for N18, 000 or N20, 000 but some people may not be able to do so. Last Christmas, if not for the Lake Rice, some people would not have eaten rice and you know rice is the main food for Christmas,” he said.

    The Commissioner also expressed optimism that with the up-scaling of the Imota Rice Milling Plant from 2.5 metric tons to 16 metric tons per hour, expected to be up and running by next year, the production of LAKE RICE would be done in the State to ensure availability of the product all year round.

  • Lagos resumes sales of Lake Rice

    Lagos resumes sales of Lake Rice

    Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oluwatoyin Surau has said that the sales of Lake Rice will resume at designated outlets across the state today.

    Suarau explained that the sale of the product is part government’s commitment to ensure that Lagosians scale through recession.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, he said, had assured Lagosians that his government would do all  to achieve food security and create more jobs.

    The Commissioner hinted that sale of the product is auspicious especially with regards to next week’s Eid-il-fitr celebration.

    He said the rice which had been subsidised by the government is available at different sizes and at approved outlets. This, he said, would make the product affordable for residents, adding that the rice is fresh and safe for consumption.

    Suarau assured that the ministry would ensure a fair distribution of the rice across the state and ensure that product is available during the festive period.

    The Commissioner listed the approved sales outlets to include; Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority Centres at Ojo, Ajah, Odogunyan in Ikorodu, and Epe as well as the secretariats of all the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the State.

    “Lake Rice would also be available for sale at the Agricultural Development Area Complex Oko-Oba, Agege; LTV Complex Agidingbi; State Universal Basic Education Board, Maryland; Government Technical College, Idimu-Alimosho and the Eko Farmers Mart Surulere”, Suarau added.

    While noting that the prices of the product has not changed, he said that the 50kg bag of Lake Rice would be sold for N12,000 while the 25kg and 10kg will be sold at N6,000, and N2,500 respectively.

  • LASG resumes sales of LAKE Rice ahead of Eid-el-fitr

    LASG resumes sales of LAKE Rice ahead of Eid-el-fitr

    The Lagos State Government(LASG) said it would resume the sales of LAKE Rice at approved retail outlets across the state from Monday, June 19, ahead of the Eid-el-fitr.

    The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oluwatoyin Suarau, said this on Sunday while reviewing the modalities for the distribution of the rice across the state.

    Suarau said that the sales would be part of the state government’s commitment to ensure food security and help residents sail through the current economic recession.

    According to him, the rice which has been subsidised to ensure affordability is fresh and safe for consumption.

    “The selling of the rice is auspicious, especially, with regards to the forthcoming Eid-el-fitr.

    “The ministry will ensure a fair distribution of the rice across the state and ensure that the product is available during the festive period.

    “’The prices of the product have not changed: a 50kg bag will sell for N12,000 while each bag of the 25kg and 10kg are going to be sold for N6,000 and N2,500 respectively,’’ he said.

    The commissioner listed the approved sales’ outlets to include: Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority Centres at Ojo, Ajah, Odogunyan in Ikorodu, and Epe.

    Other will include the secretariats of all the 57 local government and local council development areas in the state.

    He said they would also be available at the Agricultural Development Area Complex at Oko-Oba, Agege; LTV8 Complex in Agidingbi; the State Universal Basic Education Board complex at Maryland; the Government Technical College premises at Idimu-Alimosho and the Eko Farmers Mart, in  Surulere.

  • Lagos warns against sale of LAKE Rice above approved price

    Lagos warns against sale of LAKE Rice above approved price

    • Targets 16 metric tonnes per hour production

    The Lagos State Government yesterday warned officials handling the sale of its subsidised LAKE Rice in designated locations to desist from selling the product beyond the approved prices or face severe sanctions.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau who gave the warning at the 2017 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Ministry of Agriculture to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in Lagos State said the rice, a product of the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States was still on sale across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    According to him, “Lake Rice is still on sale. We still have centres where we distribute it. During the Easter period, the rice was available across the 57 local governments and the price remains the same. The 50kg is N12, 000; 25kg is N6000, while the 10kg remains N2, 500”.

    Responding to a question on the sharp practices noticed in some sale centres across the State, Suarau said, “If anyone sells it above these approved prices, we encourage people to report to us so that we can arrest such person.

    “If you have evidence, come up with it. We have investigated and we have not found any of these cases to be true.”

    He said the product, since the launch in December 2016 had been on sale at various centers across the State, adding that so far, a total of 32,647 bags of 50kg; 32,539 bags of 25kg and 30,780 bags of 10kg have been sold.

    The Commissioner also disclosed plans by the government to boost rice production in the State revealing that plans are ongoing to expand the rice mills at Imota from 2.5metric tonnes per hour to 16 metric tonnes per hour while at the same time encouraging private sector operators to invest in rice processing.

    Suarau said that has part of the effort to increase food supply and ensure food security in Lagos State, the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture was vigorously implementing the State’s Strategic Food Security Plan with programmes and projects that have the remarkable impact on food security in the State.

    The Commissioner added also that no fewer than 100 farmers through the FADAMA III additional financing programme are producing rice at Itokin in Epe Local Government in furtherance of the State government’s effort to engage youths and boost rice production in the state.

    “In all, rice cultivation has so far improved in the State from less than one ton per hectare to about three tons per hectare with double cropping in some areas where irrigation facilities are provided”, he said.

    Suarau while restating the commitment of the Akinwunmi Ambode led administration towards the attainment of food security in the State said that Food Security was in the front burner of the present administration policies to facilitate job and wealth creation as well as poverty reduction.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Ganiyu Sanni Okanlawon said the State government is committed to work with the private sector to facilitate food security by harnessing Public and Private investment to create a strong, mixed sector economy that can provide jobs for all and create the base for expanding social services and environmental sustainability.

    He said: “Agriculture has the highest demonstrated potential for job and wealth creation and it is against this background that the agricultural sector should be one of the key instruments of achieving this laudable dream”.

  • LAKE Rice: Ambode saw tomorrow

    Visionary leadership is not by words of mouth but by action and actualisation of plans that make life more abundant for the greatest number. This assertion is true of Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who has in the last 18 months executed many people oriented policies with seamless ease.

    The latest which is novel in the country and which took many by surprise is the agricultural collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi states for the production of rice. The end result of the agreement is the recent launch of the Lagos-Kebbi rice called LAKE Rice.

    It all started in March when the Lagos State Government entered into an agreement with the Kebbi State Government and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on massive production of locally grown long grain rice. It looked like an ordinary MoU which we are all used to, the ones that would be signed and thereafter ended up in the dustbin of the two parties.

    The MoU involved the government of Lagos State investing about N10 billion in rice production and the rice would be ready and available in Lagos around December. Lagos government built a rice production plant in Kebbi which can produce 20 metric tonnes of rice per hour. The rice is called Lagos-Kebbi rice otherwise called LAKE Rice. The rice is out in record time and it is available for sale all over Lagos as planned, at a subsidised price of  N12,000 per 50kg bag and N6,000 per 25kg bag while the imported rice ranges between N17,000 per bag to N22,000 per bag.

    The success of the LAKE rice is very instructive. It shows that Ambode is a thinking governor who has a vision and worked towards realising same. Ambode knew that with the skyrocketing price of foreign rice called (aroso) in local parlance, it will not be affordable to the common man so he decided to embark on the local production and processing of rice which would be affordable which yielded result. Apart from the revenue which would accrue to the Lagos state government, it will encourage local farmers to go into rice production while thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created in both Lagos and Kebbi states. The rice will not only be available, it will also be affordable. As it was done last week when the rice was launched, it was distributed across the 57 LCDAs in Lagos State.

    It is an irony that Lagos chose to partner with Kebbi State instead of partnering with one of the South-west states in the spirit of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). This perhaps could be explained in terms of the track record of Kebbi State as a rice growing state just like Ebonyi with the famous Abakaliki rice, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Kogi and Ogun known for Ofada rice, are all rice growing states. It is pertinent to note that Igbemo rice used to be more popular in those days before it was overtaken by Ofada rice produced in Ogun state.

    It still baffles many observers that the once rice growing states of the South-west, especially Ekiti state with the famous Igbemo rice, have taken the back seat in rice production. Ekiti State case is very pathetic in the sense that this is the time the rice farmers would have made a kill in sale of their brand of rice which is in high demand all over the South-west.

    Igbemo rice is so delicious such that many people across the Southwest especially in Lagos booked in advance to buy and this may take up to one week. Simple economic sense then dictates that the high demand for the rice ought to have gingered the state government to seize the opportunity to tap into the mass production of rice by encouraging local rice farmers to grow more.

    This may have possibly encouraged Lagos State to partner with such South-west state government even if it would still have partnered with Kebbi State. An investment of N5 billion in rice production in a state like Ekiti means a lot and this would have revolutionised the agricultural sector in the state. Alas, this was not to be in a state where the major programme of the present administration in the state is stomach infrastructure. What a missed opportunity!

    The Ambode example is a wake-up call for the governors of the South-west under the aegis of the DAWN. They should collaborate with Lagos State in the production of rice in the region. If it is only rice they produce, they cannot meet up with the rice demand of the South-west states alone not to talk of the whole country or export. Rice farmers are the richest in the USA and I believe the same thing could be replicated here with the right policy from the government. Lagos has little or no land to grow rice in commercial quantity but it has resources to make this happen in other states as we have just seen in the case of Kebbi State.

    Figures available from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics showed that 2.1 million metric tons of rice is imported into the country yearly. This amount to 42 million 50 kg bags of rice worth N360 billion while five million metric tons of rice, amounting to about 100 million 50kg bags of rice, is consumed yearly in the country. This is a lot of revenue to local rice farmers if the right environment and tools are available to them.

    Local rice production on a large scale will take many rice farmers out of poverty and make many millionaires in the value chain of clearing, planting, harvesting and processing. This will only happen if the problems militating against the commercial production of rice such as low technology base (mechanisation), high interest rates, poorly funded research institutes and corruption ridden fertiliser distribution and low public sector investment in agriculture are effectively tackled.

    Ambode’s initiative on the LAKE rice is commendable and should be emulated by other governors not only the South-west but in the country. Little wonder that President Muhammadu Buhari showered encomiums on Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart during the launch of the LAKE rice in Lagos. The President noted, “What the two states have done is evidence of a new base being laid for the Nigerian economy, founded and propelled by agriculture, away from substantial dependence on oil and gas for national revenue”.

    The production of the LAKE rice should be sustained while other South-west governors should take a cue from this by encouraging local farmers to grow rice in commercial quantity. The Lagos State government should not allow the LAKE rice to be hijacked by shrewd merchants who are only after huge profits to the detriment of the common people whom it is meant for. If that happens, prices will skyrocket beyond the reach of the common man and the purpose would have been defeated.

    Congratulations to Lagosians who are enjoying the real dividends of democracy since Ambode assumed office over a year ago.

    • Akintunde, a public affairs analyst wrote from Surulere, Lagos.
  • LAKE rice still available, says govt

    LAKE rice still available, says govt

    The Lagos State government has reassured residents of the availability of ‘LAKE Rice’ at designated outlets.
    Commissioner for Agriculture Toyin Suarau said the government was working to ensure availability of the product in outlets and centres.
    He assured that as from today all designated retail outlets and centres will have enough supply of the product to meet growing residents’ demands.
    Defending government’s resolve to distribute and retail the product on senatorial district basis using designated outlets, the commissioner said this was to ensure fair distribution, availability and to guard against diversion.
    “The product which is packaged in 50kg, 25kg and 10kg bags is being offered for sale at N12,000, N6,000 and N2,500,” Suarau noted.
    He added that residents who reside within Lagos Central Senatorial District can get the product at Agric Area Office, Ajah; Lagos Island at LATMA Works yard, Lagos Island; Ajegunle at Alakoto Senior High School, Tolu; Surulere at Teslim Balogun Stadium; and Yaba at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park.
    In Lagos East, the product will be available at Odogunyan Farm Service Centre, Ikorodu; Temu Farm Service Centre, Epe; Noforija Town Hall, Eredo; Magbon Alade School, Ibeju Lekki; and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) premises, Maryland.
    In Lagos West Senatorial District, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA)/Farm Service Centre, Oko-Oba, Agege; Lagos Agricultural Inputs Supply Authority (LAISA), Ojo; Farm Service Centre, Marina-Badagry; and Ikeja Grammar School, Bolade, Oshodi are the dedicated sales outlets.

  • Group hails Ambode on ‘LAKE RICE’

    Group hails Ambode on ‘LAKE RICE’

    A group, Lagosians Future Group (LFP), has praised Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making life easier for people during the yuletide season and beyond with Lake Rice.
    At its end-of-year party in Lagos its president Mr Oluwaseyi Bamgbade thanked the government for collaborating with Kebbi State to resolve the food crisis.
    He said through the collaboration, Lagosians were able to buy rice at cheaper rate unlike their counterparts in other states who paid over N20,000 to buy a bag of rice.
    Bamgbade appealed to Ambode to ensure proper monitoring of the rice for easy accessibility in all the 57 councils and also prevent its boarding by unscrupulous people.