By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State government has said it is targeting to scale up its food self-sufficiency from the present 10 percent to about 25 percent by 2018.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Basorun stated this at the opening of 2015 Lagos Rice Fair, at the weekend, organized by Growth and Employment in the States (GEMS) in Agidingbi, Ikeja.

Basorun however, called for potential investors in the rice value chain to support in the determination of the state government to meet the agricultural challenges of the state and indeed Nigeria, saying that “a country that cannot feed itself is in absolute terms insecure”.

He restated government commitment towards assisting and giving support to anybody who fully engages in rice farming, not as part time but as strategic and profitable venture.

Basorun stated that the fair will no doubt increase awareness about Nigeria rice brands in the market adding also that the fair would afford major rice dealers, distributors and consumers the opportunity to interact and network.

The Permanent Secretary stated that statistics on rice consumption shows that Nigeria imports about 2 million metric tons of Rice per annum, with Lagos State consuming at least 1 million metric tons thus representing 50 percent of rice importation.

Speaking further, he said that as part of efforts at developing the rice value chain in Lagos, the government has made available additional 1,000 hectares of land for rice cultivation in the state over the last four years adding that an integrated Rice mill was constructed and commissioned in Imota, Ikorodu in 2012 for processing of rice cultivated in the State and its environ stressing that Rice from the mill with the brand “Eko Rice” is already being sold to residents.