Lagos State Government has acquired 500 hectares of land for the establishment of its proposed Farm Estate Initiative.
The land located along Itolkin-Epe road belonged some communities in Itolkin-mowo area of the state; and crop compensation has been paid to the owners..
Mr. Ganiyu Okanlawon, Special Adviser to the governor on food security, while presenting cheques to the affected members of the communities said the land will be allocated to farmers.
”The acquisition of these lands is aimed at commercializing agriculture and to move from subsistence farming to mechanized modern farming methods,” Okanlawon said.
He advised communities that benefitted from crop compensation payment to cooperate with one another, noting that such cooperation is essential for the development of their communities.
He assured them that government will carry them along in its agricultural revolution projects.
“Farm activities on the acquired lands,” the special adviser stressed, “will be fully equipped with modern farming implements to boost the output of agricultural produce.”
Recently, the state government commissioned an Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre as a complement to the state-owned Agricultural Implement Unit, Okanlawon stated.
He declared that the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre was established to provide mechanized tools to farmers at a reduced rate.
“The initiative has been set up to reduce drudgery in agriculture,” he elaborated, adding that it will increase cultivatable farmland, promote competition and enhance value for money
