N84 Million Worth of Vegetables Perish in Lagos Daily

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said that about 240 metric tons of vegetables worth about N84 million that are produced and brought into Lagos perish on a daily basis.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Prince Gbolahan Lawal made the revelation while speaking at the annual ministerial press briefing in Lagos. He explained that one way the state government is working to reduce the loss is by adopting a more modern means of transportation that will reduce the incident by about 25 to 30 percent.

“As at today, advertisement has been sent to the Lagos State Procurement Agency and within the next 1 – 2 weeks, investors wishing to invest in transportation and packaging value chain are advised to express their interest” he said, adding that that it behoves Lagos as a megacity to revolutionise the method of transportation and packaging in the market.

The commissioner explained that the aim is to ensure that conditioning centres are established in major market. On efforts to ensure that there is enough food for residents of Lagos State, the commissioner said government has acquired lands outside the state for production of food items including one in Abuja for production of goat and cattle in addition to the 2,703.86 hectares of land it has acquired within the state.

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He said Lagos State currently produces 450,000 to 500,000 (50 kilograms) of rice adding that though consumption is in millions of tons, government has opened its doors for private sector support. He noted that fish production in Lagos has hit 160,000 tons while consumption is about 240,000 tons for Lagos State alone.