By Gbenga Adewale
Sunrise News, Badagry, Sept 10, 2020 The Lagos State Coconut Development Authority(LASCODA) has assured that Lagos farmers would not suffer any loss and support like farmers in Ghana at whatever investment they might have put in the Lagos Coconut production.
The General Manager, LASCODA, Mr. Dapo Olakulehin said this on Wednesday during the celebration to commemorate the World Coconut Day held in Agege Farm Service Centre of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, that Lagos Farmers needed to be reassured that that they would not suffer because the Governor of Lagos State,Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu has approved about 140,000 Siddlings to be distributed to the Farmers free of charge in his Administration for the Coconut development in Lagos State.
He expressed further that Lagos is protecting her farmers and as well opening up investors for people to reach for Coconut productions. He said that the future of the Coconut business in Nigeria is bright even at the 18th position which Nigeria is in the world,at Coconut productions,that Nigeria farmers are making a lot of efforts to get to the 1st of the 10th in the world.
The member of the House Committee for Agriculture,of Lagos State House of Assembly,Hon.Sani Ganiu Okanlawon said while addressing Newsmen,that it is the truth that LASCODA has done so much in Coconut productions in Lagos but Nigeria government should do something more towards growing coconut value chain because of its benefits. He explained that the Coconut products serve to stimulate economic growth,provides also employment through the Coconut value chain development and increase the GDP of the country to a prosperous standard the reason why the Coconut day celebration is significant in the world,same as the reason it is called the Tree of Abundance that could be adapted to varying economic condition. He said.
The Guest Speaker,Joshua Odewale spoke extensively on the importance of Coconut productions and narrated how Nigeria has not taken it so seriously in its state,having been rated 18th Coconut producer in the world .
He urged therefore the government to organise regular training among the stakeholders for the country’s progress.
The Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya said in her keynote Address that the government is trying to ensure that the Coconut at the forefront that the Coconut Tree on the Lagos State LOGO is not there for nothing. And it is the major cash crops Lagos needs to invest on. She however emphasized that Lagos had plans to establishing Coconut factory in Badagry for catalysing the subsector by the 2021 to ensure sustainable entity.
She said Lagos has been supplying Coconut seedlings free of charge for about 1 and a half month across the 57 Local Government and LCDAs in Lagos and its concurrently going on to ensure that it stems the impact of the Climate change.