Firm Pledge to Increase Investment in Agriculture

Olaseni Durojaiye

Gartner Callaway Farms, an agricultural concern located in Lekki, Lagos, has expressed commitment to bridging the gap between dwindling natural resources and the food needs arising from population growth.

The company, determined to prove its mettle via technological advancement in modern agricultural practice, said it was capable of achieving the feat.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, the firm explained that the initiative behind the hydroponic farm was a fallout of the global conversation bordering on food security and sufficiency, particularly in Africa; even as the consensus opinion from developed countries was that there’s an urgent need to support agricultural growth in poor African countries.

Promoters of the farm, Bosun Ariyo and Yomi Williams, explained that the company is technology driven and boasts of the most modern technology available to most modern agriculture farms anywhere in the world.

According to Williams, “At Callaway Farms, we lay more emphasis on livestock production, fruits and vegetable, oil seeds and bamboo cultivation and processing.

“Our winning strategy is the specialty in growing agricultural products through indoor vertical farms and hydroponic grow systems in greenhouses using state-of-the-art climate monitoring systems and production techniques.”

On his part, Ariyo said: “The Gartner Callaway Farms is a multi-million naira facility and the production and marketing brand of Gartner Callaway GC, which has been a leading company in the cultivation, processing and marketing of soft commodities under an initiative known as Demeter Initiative.

“The Demeter Initiative is a programme solely designed for sustainable agriculture and rural development.”

Callaway Farms officially kicked off operations last year.

Speaking on the company’s future plans, Williams said: “First, the we aim to duplicate the Lekki flagship farm in four other strategic locations in Lagos - in Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja, to further strengthen our arm-to-Table reach.

“Then, plans are in the pipeline to develop Callaway Epe farm, to increase capacity for a wider market reach.”

ProNov, a technology innovation firm has emerged winner of $3000 cash prize in the Merck Accelerator Lagos Satellite Programme pitch event for young innovators.

Speaking at the pitch event organised by Seedspace in Lagos, the General Manager, Seedspace Lagos, Alessia Balducci, expressed the company’s desire to foster technology and innovation by building Hubs and Communities through its accelerated and Academy programmes.

In his remarks, the Team leader, ProNov, Mr. Damilola Ogundiaro, who expressed delight at the financial grant given to the firm, said they would expand their activities to Ibadan and Kaduna.

Ogundiaro, added that they have some funding opportunities that are in advance stages which would enable them to expand their investment in terms of logistics.

“There is a lot to do especially when attention is now on us as a team, but we hope to expand our activities to Ibadan