Lagos state commits USD4.3m, signs agreement with FAO to implement 5-year coconut value chain strategy

The Permenant Secretary Lagos state Ministr of Agricultuire Mrs. Omokpae (Left) and FAO's Mr. Cisse (right) as they sign the agreement in Lagos.

21/08/2023

Abuja:

The government of Lagos state has committed USD4.322 million to upgrade the coconut value chain, with a view to contribute to the enhancement of the state’s economy and has signed a Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to implement the 5-year upgrading strategy.

The agreement that was signed on 10 August 2023 at the Alausa Secretariat of the Lagos state Ministry of Agriculture in Ikeja, signifies another milestone achieved by the partnership between FAO and the state government as part of efforts by the government to boost the economic prosperity of the people, particularly where they have competitive and comparative advantage.

The upgrading strategy will target more than 10 000 first-line beneficiaries along the value chain, mostly farmers, processors and marketers. While signing the agreement on behalf of the state government, the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Tokunbo Omokpae stated that the government is committed to developing the agriculture sector in the state to guarantee not only food security but also attract investment in the states by providing more income generation opportunities for the people.

“Most of the coconut farmers in Lagos are into the production, but not the processing. I am sure that with the implementation of this strategy, they would tap into the value chain to reap the financial and other benefits derived from the affiliates,” she said.

The FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria, Dominique Koffy Kouacou who was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Al Hassan Cisse, Head of FAO Nigeria Northeast sub-office in Maiduguri recalled that, at the beginning of the partnership two years ago, the state government requested for FAO technical assistance to conduct a value chain analysis and as a result, a comprehensive report for sustainable coconut value chain development was produced and submitted to the government for implementation.

“FAO will continue to strengthen and sustain this partnership with the Lagos state government to successfully implement the coconut value chain upgrading strategy, and other projects that are relevant to the development objectives of the state government,” he emphasized.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Mr. Dapo Olakulehin while appreciating the state government for the proven determination to see the project through, he also emphasized that the “coconut sector would contribute meaningfully to the economy of Lagos state.”

He added that “presently, we are operating at a volume of nearly 260,000 metric tons, which translates into billions of naira annually. There are many income generation benefits along the value chain that are available for operators to access.”

It would be recalled that in 2021, at the invitation of the state government, FAO in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) supported the design of an effective plan that identified the necessary public and private investment opportunities, the technical assistance required and policy implications for a sustainable coconut value chain development in Lagos state. This report was submitted earlier this year with all the recommendations in place.

The current project seeks to improve the traditional practices through technology-driven practices that allow for increased productivity along the coconut value chain. Furthermore, byproducts innovatively produced from coconut shells would be sold in the country to substitute for imports and contribute to reducing environmental footprints. It also targets to increase exports, by this means enhancing income generation and employment, especially for small-scale framers, processors, and retailers among many others along the coconut value chain.

The project would enhance the capacities of small-scale farmers and processors as well as LASCODA staff to provide technical support to the operators; grants and training to fresh graduates to support start-ups and expansion for existing providers in the value chain.