Some agriculture experts have lauded the partnership between Lagos State and Niger governments to address food security.

They experts, in separate interviews with journalists on Saturday in Lagos, said the initiative would open more partnerships among states with comparative advantage and make the country self-sufficient in food production.

On March 6, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Niger counterpart, Umar Bago, signed an agreement to produce and process food for Lagos.

The agreement known as “Produce for Lagos Initiative,” is an effort by both states to participate in an emergency food security initiative to cultivate thousands of hectares to maintain a consistent food production and supply chain.

Following the agreement, there will be a significant supply of fresh farm produce to the Lagos Food Logistics hubs, ensuring efficient storage and distribution.

The foodstuffs include rice, grains, tubers, vegetables, and others.

Olufemi Ajayi of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, said the partnership was an eye opener for other state governors.

He said state governors should think outside the box to carve a niche for themselves in agriculture.

Mr Ajayi said Niger would not produce food for Lagos for free, adding that the ultimate goal was empowerment and transformation of agriculture.

He said the initiative would create jobs for citizens of Niger through engagement of farmers and that it would also dislodge insurgents.

“The initiative will bring a lot of things to his state. I think several other states will learn from him, and they will begin to look into the future of agriculture,” he said.

Mr Ajayi urged the Lagos State government to see the partnership as a way to develop its area of comparative advantage, aside being a market for agricultural produce.

Similarly, Raphael Hunsa, the chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Lagos State, described the partnership as a welcome development.

He said that irrespective of the partnership, the state government must continue to work with existing farmers to improve food production.

Mr Hunsa urged the government to give due recognition to farmers in the state to achieve success in agriculture.

“If support is not given to farmers at the appropriate time, this may lead to low production,” he said. “I want the Lagos State government to emulate what the governor of Niger has done by deploying more of its resources into food production.”

Mr Hunsa also noted that Lagos should not limit its potential to marketing and a consuming state alone, but one that is all-encompassing about trade.

“If Lagos State too can harness its own potential by discussing and coordinating the farmers in a manner that will indicate that there are farmers in the state, things will improve.

“Lagos is not just for infrastructural development or a market destination for goods. It can also compete in its own little way.

“It should not remain a consuming state alone. The government should be strategic and work with farmers to increase food production,” he said.

Mr Hunsa also urged the Lagos government not to abandon the state farmers because of the new partnership with Niger.

He commended the government for its support for rice farmers and called for more collaboration with RIFAN.

(NAN)