The State
Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya stated this on
Wednesday at the 2020 Coconut Day Celebration at Lagos Farm Centre, Agege,
organised by the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority.
The Lagos
State Government has said it will establish a coconut processing factory in
Badagry to further optimize the use of coconut and harness the economic
potentials in the value chain.
She said that
the factory would be solely dedicated for the processing of coconut husk to
coir, and coco peat among others under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement
in the State’s Y2021 Annual Work Plan and Budget.
She noted
that these initiatives further reinforced the State’s position as the number
one coconut producer in Nigeria in addition to providing employment
opportunities for the teeming citizens.
Olusanya said
the processing factory would also catalyze the entire industry, such that more
people will come within the sub-sector and create more business opportunities
in the value chain adding that Lagos State is the largest coconut producing
state in Nigeria, contributing over 70 per cent to what the nation produced.
“I believe
Nigeria as a whole produces over 350,000 tonnes of coconut annually but it is
far behind what the likes of the Philippines, Malaysia and other Asians
countries are producing on annual bases.
“We are very
much far behind. To further optimize the use of coconut value chain, the state
has proposed to establish a coconut factory in Badagry solely dedicated for the
processing of Coconut husk to Coir, coco peat etc. under a PPP arrangement in
her 2021 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB).
“It is
believed that with all these efforts, Lagos state will continue to be number
one coconut producer in Nigeria. This will to a great extent provide jobs and
employment for teeming citizens.
“The support
will also lead to various job creation in other areas aside from the above
mentioned and contribute to export and foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria,”
she said.
Olusanya reiterated
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to adopting a much more robust food security
strategy for the State next year.
The Acting
Commissioner said the theme of this year’s celebration“Coconut in the 21St
Century Economy” was aimed at creating awareness for the promotion of
production, processing, utilization and commercialization of the coconut value
chain.
She said that
the occasion takes into cognizance the fact that Nigeria ranks 18 among over 92
coconut producing countries of the world, of which Lagos State contributes
about 70 per cent of the national production of coconut and its products.
“Undoubtedly,
Agriculture remains the fulcrum of human survival with the majority of the
resources donated by nature. As such, it is not an overstatement that the crop
we are celebrating today is perhaps one of the most single useful crop known to
man in terms of versatility, product utilization and longevity.
“This
occasion, therefore, serves as another timely wake up to go back to the basics
and rekindle the interests and values of coconut and its plethora of products
for social, environmental. Economic and
wellness advantages as seen to be practised and enjoyed sustainably by coconut
driven economies.
‘Lagos has a
comparative advantage for coconut production, processing, utilization and
commercialization and as of today, remains the hub of Coconut in Nigeria and
all coconuts traversing the West Coast of Africa,” she said.
In his
presentation, Dr Joshua Odewale of the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research
(NIFOR), Benin Ciy, Edo State urged the government to set up an endowment fund
for coconut and coconut products national consumption and export for about 20
years, noting that the Philippines set a 25-year endowment fund goal.
He said there
was the need for government to take coconut as a personal crop with focus on
development for enhancement of survival as if there was an international
lockdown restriction on the importation of any coconut product both secondary
and downstream products.
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