By Benson Daniel
The BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government have strengthened their longstanding agricultural partnership with the launch of a new poultry development initiative aimed at improving food production, creating livelihoods and supporting farmers across the state.
The initiative, known as “Chicks to Plate”, will train 200 prospective and existing poultry farmers in modern poultry production, farm management and agribusiness, with additional enterprise support to be provided to 40 participating layer farmers to help expand their businesses.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s agricultural value chain and increase local food production.
The latest initiative represents a new phase in the eight year partnership between BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government, which began in 2018 with the “Fingerlings to Fork” programme focused on aquaculture.
Under the earlier programme, 1,436 fish farmers were trained between 2018 and 2025 in modern aquaculture, processing, packaging, export readiness and farm management. Beneficiaries also received production assets, including fish smoking kilns and tarpaulin ponds.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said poultry production could play an important role in improving access to animal protein, creating jobs and strengthening agricultural value chains.
The state government currently estimates that only about 25 per cent of food consumed in Lagos is produced locally and has set a target of increasing local production to 50 per cent.
The poultry initiative is therefore expected to contribute to the state’s food security strategy by supporting farmers with technical knowledge and practical skills needed to improve productivity and operate their businesses more efficiently.
Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said sustainable agricultural development required more than training, stressing the importance of equipping farmers with practical skills, improving productivity and strengthening value chains.
He said the “Chicks to Plate” project was designed to build on the foundation’s previous work with the Lagos State Government while creating opportunities that could translate into sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.
The programme will also expose beneficiaries to modern poultry production methods and biosecurity practices, which are essential for maintaining healthy birds, reducing losses and improving the resilience of poultry businesses.
Programme Manager at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, Aderonke TojuTubi, said the project would strengthen agricultural extension services by providing farmers with practical knowledge and modern production techniques.
The renewed partnership comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to expand domestic food production and reduce pressure on household budgets caused by rising food prices. Poultry remains an important component of the food system because it provides both eggs and meat while supporting thousands of businesses across production, processing, transportation and marketing.
For Lagos, increased poultry production could also create opportunities for young people and existing farmers to expand their enterprises and participate more actively in the state’s agricultural economy.
The partnership between BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government demonstrates the growing role of public private collaboration in addressing food security challenges and building sustainable agricultural businesses.
With the “Chicks to Plate” initiative, both partners are expected to continue focusing on farmer development, improved productivity and stronger agricultural value chains as Lagos works towards its target of producing a greater share of the food consumed by its growing population.
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