Mile 12 traders seek partnerships with Lagos, Ogun on crops cultivation

The Mile 12 Perishable Food Traders Association on Monday urged the Lagos and Ogun State Governments to partner with it to boost food production in Nigeria.

Mr Femi Odusanya, Spokesman of the association, made this appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Odusanya said the traders were seeking partnerships with the states on acquiring large expanse of land for various crops cultivation.

He said that the association already had farms in Kano, Katsina and Plateau, and had been using the farms to stabilise the price of goods in the market.

The spokesman said that the market was exploring the option of joint partnerships with the state governments to address the high cost of food, which had been a recurring concern to consumers.

“We have large numbers of experienced farmers working with us, especially in tomatoes and vegetable cultivation.

“If we have access to land in these states, it will assist us to produce tomatoes in the South-West when the tomatoes from the Northern part are unavailable due to seasonal effects.

“We will also be nearer to the market, thereby reducing the cost of transportation and invariably reducing the cost of food in those states,’’ he said.

Odusanya said that strategically locating the market’s farm in these states would also improve the wellbeing of citizens, boost employment and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Views: 11