Lagos seeks partners on planned piggery processing plant
Lagos seeks partners on planned piggery processing plant
By Olayinka Olawale and Grace Alegba
Lagos, March 15, 2020 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has invited local and foreign partners to invest in its planned piggery processing plant, to be established in Ikorodu, near Lagos.
Making the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, said the venture would boost the protein value-chain.
He said that the plant would be built at the pig farm settlement at Egberigbe community in Ikorodu.
Lawal recalled that the establishment of the plant was part of the recommendations at an agricultural summit, organised by the ministry last year.
“We are seriously working on establishing the piggery plant because it forms part of what we agreed during the summit and we already have locations for it.
“The aim is to have slaughter lines for pig farmers.
“I want to use this opportunity to invite investors to come and establish plants in the state.’’
According to the commissioner, entrepreneurs need to embrace pork processing, to tap pig farming potential fully.
Lawal said also that the State Government had adopted strategies to reduce food wastages and post-harvest losses in the agricultural value-chains.
He recalled that the 2019 summit had adopted a strategy of minimising wastages by creating wholesale agricultural produce markets.
According to him, when the wholesale market begins, it will solve the issue of harvesting farm produce and lacking avenues to sell.
“The State Government has in the interim, created Eko City Farmers Market, where farmers will have opportunities to meet with consumers and sell at farm gate prices.’’
He explained that with that specialised market, the problem of lacking avenues to sell farm produce would have been resolved.
“We have opened up the market to address food wastages in the agricultural value-chain.’’
The commissioner said the ministry would continue to use Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos for the market, being a strategic location.
“We still have a bigger plan for the wholesale market. It will have a cold chain to reduce post-harvest loses.’’
He reiterated the State Government’s resolve to implement some of the recommendations of the summit, to address major challenges confronting the agriculture space.
OOG/GA/CHIN/AIB/SN
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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Abdulfatah Babatunde/Silas Nwoha