Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Government has received the coconut value chain analysis report aimed at formulating the investment plan necessary to upgrade the coconut value chain in Lagos.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, while receiving the report presented recently to her in Lagos by representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), said that the report has shed light on policies and investment around the coconut value chain.
Olusanya, said that more than 60% to 70% of the coconut consumed in Nigeria passes through Lagos as the state contributes 16% to actual production. She added that, imported coconuts particularly those coming from other western countries, also lands in Lagos before it is distributed across Nigeria.
“This document would be more or less, the Bible for the coconut value chain investment, policy and marketing linkage strategies”, Commissioner Olusanya said.
The Commissioner further stated that the synergy between Lagos and FAO has been mutually beneficial, explaining that State Government has been pivotal to the spread of coconut to other parts of Nigeria.
She assured that a speedy implementation of the report would further change the disposition of the people towards it, thereby attracting investment opportunities into the state and making it a contributory factor in making Lagos a 21st-century economy through job and wealth creation.
The Commissioner, however, charged Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA) to develop a five-year plan based on the submitted report.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Olatokunbo Emokpae explained that the collaboration between the State Government, FAO and UNIDO through technical support under the FAO unilateral trust fund has been pivotal to the coconut development value chain in Lagos State.
“It is the belief of this administration that by unlocking the full potential of coconut the state can benefit optimally and achieve more of its economic, environmental and health benefits embedded in it”, she said.
According to the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Nigeria, Abubakar Suleiman, the report addresses components in the value chain that are necessary to formulate investment and outlines how the upgrading of the Lagos State value chain will look.
The General Manager, LASCODA, Dapo Olakulehin, noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is highly interested in the coconut value chain.
He also revealed that the report will further help in the production, processing and commercialisation of coconut in the State.
