The Lagos State government has commended Dizegoff Nigeria on its capacity building initiative for farmers across the country and for the state in particular.
The commendation came recently during the presentation of product exhibition on ‘Mechanising Community Agriculture’ organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs in collaboration with Dizengoff Nigeria.
In his keynote address at the event, Akeem Sulaimon, special adviser to the state Governor on Communities and Communication, while commending Dizengoff, said the state government believes educating and empowering of farmers in communities and rural areas in mechanised farming is vital to Nigeria’s economic growth and development.
He said “global agricultural development is driven by mechanisation. The best global mechanisation management practices are important in ensuring optimal agricultural production, better living standards, poverty reduction, curbing rural-urban drift, and tackling unemployment and youth restiveness in our communities.
“One of the policy thrusts of the state government recognises that food security is important to the survival of the citizenry,” he added in a statement.
The capacity building programme was a collaborative effort between the state and Dizengoff. It involves the training of farmers on good agricultural practices to improve their yield per hectare as well as on technical know-how of modern farming techniques.
The programme covered four areas of agriculture solutions where participants were enlightened on the use of modern agricultural machineries and implements, greenhouse technology, irrigation solution, agrochemicals and consumables.
Meanwhile, Dizengoff Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Antti Ritvonen, expressed delight at the opportunity to collaborate with the Lagos State government on the programme. He said, “as a company, we are excited to be able to share our technical know-how and quality service delivery, coupled with our many years of experience in providing agricultural solutions to the Nigerian farmer.”
He expressed strong optimism about the future of agriculture in the country, which he said has very huge opportunity and strong potential to easily become self-sufficient in food production within a short time.
He pledged Dizengoff’s readiness to work with the Lagos State government on how to rapidly transform the state’s agriculture and achieve food sufficiency.
Speaking during the event, Folu Padonu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, while commending Dizengoff, said the partnership with the organisation marks a revolution for community agriculture in the state.