Lagos Stakeholders Push for Deeper Research to Combat Food Insecurity

The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Agricultural Development Authority, has called for strengthened agricultural research as a key step toward tackling food insecurity and addressing challenges faced by farmers.

This position was highlighted at the meeting of the South-West Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage Systems steering committee, organised by the authority.

The session brought together major stakeholders from all six states in the South-West—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti—alongside experts from research institutes, Agricultural Development Programmes, universities, and policy bodies.

Speaking at the two-day gathering held at the Lagos State Agriculture Cooperative, Oko-Oba, Agege, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, explained that the meeting focused on reviewing progress made in 2025 and assessing ongoing research and extension activities across the region. Olusanya, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Emmanuel Audu, emphasised that knowledge and research remain central to policy development, programme execution, and overall advancement.

She noted that the Lagos Agricultural Development Authority continues to play a vital role in bridging the gap between research and farmers through effective extension services. According to her, the goal is not only to ensure that innovation reaches farmers but that it does so promptly, enabling research outcomes to translate into practical solutions, efficient input usage, and timely guidance. She added that extension efforts must be supported with sustained, localised, and adaptable research, particularly as farmers contend with issues such as climate change, shifting weather patterns, and soil degradation.

Programme Manager of LSADA, Toju-Tubi Aderonke, reaffirmed the importance of the platform as a link between research institutions, extension officers, and farmers.

“We are a community of farmers, and we continue to support them by providing relevant resources and assistance across the zone. Over time, REFILS Steering Committee meetings have helped us assess previous activities, identify gaps, and design new interventions that push agricultural development forward,” she said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Prof. Gabriel Oluwatosin, stated that the meeting was aimed at intensifying efforts to make research outcomes more practical, relevant, and adaptable to farmers’ evolving needs.