The Agence Française de development (AFD) and SEMMARIS (the Technical partner) have commenced steps towards providing a one-year technical assistance programme for the establishment of National Agri-food Market Development Strategy for the country. The support, in collaboration with the Federal Government, started with an inspection tour of markets in Lagos State to understudy the market systems of the boisterous city. Based on its design, the Technical Assistance will define the strategic orientations of the Nigerian policy on the development of wholesale markets for fresh produce in urban areas with the aim of creating a methodology for the modernisation of wholesale trade to supply major cities and peri-urban areas, while structuring the country’s agri-food value chain. The visit to the state, according to the team, was in furtherance of the bid to study the food value chains in Lagos, thereby helping to reduce food spoilage, promote food storage and preservation, guarantee food security, greater returns for farmers and investors in the agro-allied sectorThe visit, which was in line with the tripartite agreement earlier signed between the Federal Government, AFD, and (the technical partner), SEMMARIS also involves a one-year study, which will run from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, with a particular focus on the three largest urban consumption areas and will look at the whole value chains market ecosystem from rural to urban corridors in Nigeria namely – Lagos-Ibadan, Kano-Kaduna, and Onitsha-Port-Harcourt. The visiting team comprises of representatives of SEMMARIS, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and AFD, who were received by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpae.

Source: The Guardian July 24, 2023 03:49 UTC