FAO, UNIDO Partners Lagos State Government on $4.01m Coconut Development Project
The Lagos State Government, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have unveiled a proposed 4.01 million dollars investment to boost coconut production in Lagos from 2022 to 2027.
The development was contained in a document presented to stakeholders at a validation workshop for the Development of the Coconut Value Chain in Lagos.
Speaking at the workshop, the FAO Representative to Nigeria, Mr Fred Kafeero, said the aim of the meeting was to validate the draft upgrading report adding that the feedback from the workshop would enrich the document and form a basis for a robust upgrading document for the Lagos State Government’s consideration and investment.
He said, “It is my conviction that once the document is validated and formally endorsed, it will form an important instrument in forging strong partnership between the state government, FAO and UNIDO. It will also initiate the development of a shared vision and core strategic options for the value chain development. I am pleased to be part of this very important validation workshop where the draft report of the strategy document for the upgrading of Coconut Value Chain Development in Lagos State is to be validated.”
“The Lagos State Government has taken the initiative to develop the coconut value chain together with the FAO to co-finance the initial phase of the project. FAO is jointly implementing the VCA with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the FAO-UNIDO jointly managed project – Agri-Food Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA).”
Furthermore, Kafeero said the first phase of the project would include the analysis of the coconut value chain to identify constraints and opportunities as well as develop concrete actions for upgrading of the commodity.
On his part, the Regional Director, UNIDO Regional Office Hub, Nigeria, Mr Jean Bakole, pledged UNIDO’s availability to work in collaboration with the FAO and Lagos State Government to provide technical support for the development of the coconut value chain.
According to him, the initiative would boost agribusiness and the agro-industry sector as well as promote economic diversification programmes. Remarking, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said Lagos has the potential to grow 10 million coconut trees in five years in line with its Agricultural and Food System Roadmap (2021–2025).
Olusanya explained that the successful implementation of the value chain analysis project document would ensure the sustainable development of the coconut sub-sector and the agricultural sector in general in the state.
According to her, the state government is fully committed to unlocking the potential of coconut and ensure that it competes with global coconut economies of the world.
The commissioner stressed the government’s commitment towards providing the necessary support and an enabling environment for private businesses in the coconut value chain to thrive successfully.
“I hereby use this medium to call on prospective investors both foreign and local, as well as, the private sector to come into this space. The state will provide the necessary support and an enabling environment for your businesses in the coconut value chain to thrive successfully.”
“I also want to assure our stakeholders, value chain actors and prospective investors that the state government is fully committed to unlocking the potential of coconut to compete with global coconut economies of the world,” Olusanya added.
Agro Nigeria
