Lagos govt empowers 1,786 persons on agribusiness

The Lagos State Government has empowered 1,786 persons, including women, youths and persons living with disabilities (PLWD) under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project.

APPEALS Project is a tripartite agreement between the Lagos State Government, the Federal Government and the World Bank.

The beneficiaries who are involved in poultry, rice and aquaculture value chains were presented with cheques worth ₦3.6 billion by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a ceremony in Agidingbi Ikeja to formally launch the APPEALS Project in Lagos.

“We are strongly committed to enhancing the agricultural productivity of small and medium-scale farmers in Lagos State, and improving value addition along with our agricultural value chain, which are the core objectives of the Lagos APPEALS project”, Gov Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor noted that the construction of 13.16 kilometres of Farm Access Roads embarked upon by APPEALS Project in four locations and farming clusters namely; Araga Farm Settlement, Igbodu, and Poultry Cluster in Epe; Erikorodo Poultry Estate in Ikorodu and Afowo in Badagry, would be completed by June 2022.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya said the target of the APPEALS Project was to increase participation in agriculture and improved production and marketing opportunities of the value chains.

Ms Olusanya said each of the beneficiaries would be linked with a mentor or guardian to ensure their success.

Each beneficiary and group got between over ₦1 million to above ₦8 million.