As part of efforts to provide a more enabling environment for those in the Agriculture business, the Lagos State Government says it has concluded plans to establish an e-commerce hub.
The Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya who made this known during a tour of two of the venues of the Eko City Framers Market explained that the hub which would be sited at a central location in the State would enable Agric producers to hgyenically package their produce, get the necessary approvals and certifications to export such produce.
“Essentially, we want to be able to make it easier for our producers to come together in one location and produce in sanitary conditions and hygienic condition for us to be able to get organisations like SON, NAFDAC to certify their products for export” Olusanya said.
Ms Olusanya who stated that this edition of the Eko City Farmers Market was deliberately decentralized because of Covid-19 protocols, stressed that the platform still remains an avenue for producers to connect with consumers and whosoever want to purchase farm produce and products along any of the existing value chain
Ms Olusanya who revealed that arrangements have also been concluded to host a virtual stakeholders meeting in August to deliberate on happenings in the Agric terrain and proffer solutions to some of the identified challenges, said the Ministry of Agriculture is also collaborating with that of Science and Technology to develop an app-tech hub to encourage youths participation in Agriculture.
The Acting Commissioner announced that the next edition of the Lagos State Entrepreneurship Programme, LAP, in Araga Epe would also focus on virtual engagements between the trainees and their customers.
At St. Georges Primary School, Falomo, one of the locations visited by the acting Commissioner, the member of the Lagos State Assembly, representing Eti Osa Local Government, Mr Gbolahan Yishau, commended the State Government for its efforts at ensuring food sustainability and food palliatives given out to residents to ease the impact of Covid-19
Mr Yishau who gave out free food vouchers to over one thousand residents in the Council area to augment their shopping power at the Eko City Farmers Market and as a goodwill ahead of the forthcoming Eid-Al-Adha, described the decentralisation of the market as a good initiative.
“I think it is a very good initiative, our people can have food on their table which is a core thing during this pandemic. We brought vouchers to augment whatever they might have to come to the market with or even those who have nothing to shop with would be able to buy things, the farmers are also happy because we have created additional market for people to buy from them” He said.
Speaking in a similar vein at Opebi Primary School, Opebi, the Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Francis Oke, noted that the decentralised market would ease the pressure of going to the open market for residents during the festival.
Mr Oke said the market would be extended for five days in the LCDA to give farmers, traders and shoppers more opportunities.
Iremide Jonathan
