‘In Lagos, we intend to minimize the 40-60 per cent post harvest losses in agriculture’

     Lagos Agric PS, Dr. olayiwoleOnasanya.

Dr Olayiwole Onasanya is permanent secretary of the Lagos state Ministry of Agriculture. Here in this interview conducted by a team of Foodfarmnews in Abuja he spoke on a number of issues including the state’s plan to stem post harvest losses in vegetables, tomatoes, pepper and other produces. Excerpts…

 We are from Food Farm News. We want to start by commending your efforts as regards agricultural development based on reports received at IAR&T, Ibadan stakeholders meeting during REFILS this month. First let us meet you sir?

I am Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Ministry of Agriculture.

Now, with the topography of Lagos, one would have expected it will be more of fish stuff than crops, but to our amazement, Lagos is still doing crop and livestock production, what is the magic?

When you look at Lagos state, it is a smallest state in Nigeria in terms of land size of 3577 sq Km with only 22% for water, swamp and creeks. Therefore what we require to do in the state are enterprises that do not require so much land, and that is why we do well in poultry, aquaculture, vegetable production, and even green house tomato and pepper production. We do well in where we have comparative advantage. And with limited land, we are doing well by really maximizing the land to the best advantage of the state in terms of business enterprises. 

We are doing well in all the mentioned areas as well as cassava and its processing. We are also doing rice processing because we eat a lot of rice in Lagos state, and therefore, we do rice as we have business relationship with Kebbi state. The Lake Rice which is the product, and which we are  selling to people in the state is receiving a very good commendation as people always phone the Governor, and Commissioner of Agriculture to always keep up the project. There is what is called age and bend culture where we have the youths who are trained and empowered to raise fish on the lagoon.

What are the things of interest from the event that you feel can be of good use to Lagos state?

Let me tell you that what I have really picked here. One is the issue of post harvest losses, and when you look at Lagos, it has a big market for many produce from the North, East and South West, there is need to minimize post harvest wastages through effective technology. I have picked here for adoption in the state so as to reduce the 40-60% losses of income to farmers due to lack of effective storage technology. We will also emphasize on irrigation to ensure all-round –the-year season planting. We are going to do irrigation on vegetable, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and rice. But all these will be targeted at youth empowerment for them to cultivate and plant twice in a year.

What of seafood production?

On aquaculture, in the state we have a private driven huge investment in shrimp’s production which is located at Badagry. Here, shrimps are produced for both local and external markets through this private initiative. Our intervention in this investment is land provision for operation and they are doing very well in the swampy land.

Let is talk about your support for extension services in all these activities in order to enhance productivity in agriculture?

I want to say that with support of His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Ambode Akinwunmi has made us to do better than many states in the funding of extension services through the Lagos Agricultural Development Council. For example, the council was well funded last year, and the same has happened this year as they have been given their funding for this year, even before the planting season began. 

This is to show you the importance His Excellency attached to the effective performance of the ADP through funding support to ensure best agronomics practice to standard and quality produce. Importantly we believe in ensuring the transferring of all improved technologies to farmers through the ADPs, and we are promising to continue in doing better and best.

What is your experience on Lake Rice production between Lagos and Kebbi State?

People will prefer your product when they know that your product is qualitative with freshness, nutritional and healthy to the body than the expired rice that is being imported from abroad with 10-15 years of storage record. We have had instances where people are calling his Excellency and the Commissioner of Agriculture encouraging them not to get tired with the project. Lake Rice is already becoming a household name in Nigeria as we have really appreciated the Kebbi state government for the healthy relationship in the paddy supply to the state.