Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday tasked the nation’s leaders to evolve new methods and strategies to sustainably address the negative impact of climate change on food security.
The Governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Tunji Bello at the 2016 World Food Day celebrations held at the Johnson Agidi Agricultural Complex, Agege, added that this has become imperative given the rate of population growth particularly in developing nations.
“As part of the global community faced with the challenge of climate change, we must participate actively in the global efforts to mitigate Its effects through research and enlightenment of farmers on the need to adapt to the new reality”, he said
He said Lagos State Government has been in the forefront of the campaign for positive actions to protect the environment against the negative effects of climate change.
Some of the other initiatives already adopted, according to the Governor, include, the annual tree planting exercise and the various educative and enlightenment programmes.
“In the area of agriculture, various strategies are being implemented including the adoption of methods that will ensure continously farming activities throughout the year with or without rainfall”, the Governor added.
He explained that several clusters of Greenhouses have been erected in various zones of the State with the recent one being set up at the “Iyaafin Vegetable Estate” in Badagry.
“In these Greenhouses, rain fed cultivation of food crops is eliminated as water is supplied to cultivated seeds or vegetative propagates through appropriate methods of irrigation including drip and sprinkle among others”, he stressed.
Governor Ambode said the State has also embarked on the establishment of tree plant nurseries for the raising of different species of tree plants to aid the process of reducing the amount of carbon and temperature of the atmosphere.
He commended farmers for their commitment and perseverance, adding that at this time, the need to accord agriculture the desired attention in increasingly becoming self evident.
He gave a commitment that the present administration will continue to support the agricultural sector through incentives and other measures that will enhance greater productivity.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Toyin Suarau said the passion of the present administration to ensure food security in the face of climate change has been demonstrated through a number of innovations to prevent food shortage.
The event which featured a March past and parade by the exhibitors and farmers also witnessed the presentation of awards to winners of agriculture quiz competition amongst secondary schools and farmers.
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