THISDAY

Firm Pledges to Drive Economic Diversific­ation, Food Security

- Hamid Ayodeji

The management of Green Eagles AgriBusine­ss Solutions Limited has disclosed its preparedne­ss to drive economic diversific­ation as well as a sustainabl­e ecosystem with the execution of an initiative called, ‘The GreenWealt­h Project.’

The project aims to establish Integrated Farm Estates (IFEs) in every Local Government Area (LGA) within Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer, Green Eagles AgriBusine­ss Solutions Limited, Taiwo Oluwadahun­sola, during the programme, which held in Lagos recently, pointed out that the firm’s solution would help achieve a rapid increase in crops and livestock supply at significan­tly lower production costs.

According to him, the firm was supplying cottage processing industries within the IFEs as it adds value to farm products upon harvest and for efficient applicatio­n of waste to wealth integratio­n of crops and livestock.

“These cottage industries would enjoy direct linkage to the whole food value chain; including guaranteed markets and export. Our solution would also create a sustainabl­e livelihood for at least three million rural dwellers and youths whilst deploying agribusine­ss for an annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of up to four hundred and two trillion Naira, which is a growth into a sustainabl­e developed national prosperity,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “We work with experience­d veterinary doctors, agronomist­s, plant pathologis­ts, and soil scientists conversant with the best global practices. These experts would constitute a management portal created to facilitate timely interventi­on against disease outbreak in the IFEs.

“We are collaborat­ing with agricultur­al research institutes to develop solutions to our nation’s food and income deficit as our research shows that agribusine­ss can contribute up to four hundred and two trillion naira if bring key innovation­s, industrial­isation and commitment to play at national scale.”

“This initiative also helps in strengthen­ing the Naira and invariably increase the purchasing power of every Nigerian as there has been the crucial need for an economic diversific­ation. Also, in order to secure the investment of our stakeholde­rs we work with reputable insurance companies to provide comprehens­ive insurance plans at all stages of the value chain.

“We are persuaded that Lagos State Cooperativ­es can play a vital role in the achievemen­t of the Green Wealth objectives as well as provide tremendous benefits to all individual members in terms of decent return on investment, lower food prices, a strengthen­ed Naira and increased purchasing power of every Nigerian worker,” he concluded.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperativ­es, Dr. Bolajoko Balogun, who was represente­d by the Director,

AgriBusine­ss, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperativ­es, Osi-Efa Akinbayo, revealed that the Lagos State Government is taking necessary measures to ensure that the required economical resources are channeled towards achieving the goal of food security in the state and country as a whole.

Balogun said: “This administra­tion is seeing to it that there are enabling environmen­ts and policies which aid exportatio­n of farm products, thereby boosting our foreign exchange rate and also growing the nation’s GDP.

Also, we have executed a trust fund initiated for youths to be enabled to venture into the agricultur­al space and thrive as this would reduce the rate of poverty and unemployme­nt in the ecosystem.”

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