Lagos State is strengthening its agricultural database to better understand farmers’ needs, track production across value chains and align food supply with the demands of its rapidly growing population.
Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press briefing in Alausa ahead of the 2026 World Food Day celebration.
Fashola said the state was increasingly focused on understanding what farmers need to improve productivity while gathering reliable information on the volume and types of food commodities required to meet Lagos’ consumption needs.
He said the database would help the government build a more productive, inclusive and resilient food system by combining data, technology and market intelligence.
“We must continuously explore new and smarter ways of increasing agricultural productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, improving processing and storage, strengthening food distribution networks, expanding market access and ensuring that Lagosians have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food,” Fashola said.
With Lagos’ population and food demand continuing to rise, Fashola said innovation and better data had become critical to the state’s food-security strategy.
“The food security we desire tomorrow will ultimately depend on the innovations we promote, the investments we make and the partnerships we build today,” he said.
The state is pursuing the strategy through a combination of agricultural production, logistics, processing, market-access and youth-focused programmes.
Among them are the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub, Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hubs, Eko Rice through the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence and the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme.
Other initiatives include the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme, Lagos Agrinnovation Club and Lagos Agrithon, which are designed to promote innovation, skills development and greater participation by young people in agriculture and agribusiness.
The government is also seeking to strengthen the link between producers and consumers through initiatives such as Ounje Eko and the Produce for Lagos Offtake Guarantee Fund.
“These interventions are designed to go beyond food production by strengthening processing, storage, logistics, distribution and market linkages, while also encouraging greater participation of young people in agriculture and agribusiness,” Fashola said.
