Lagos to launch ‘Ounje Eko’ Farmers’ subsidy Phase II ahead yuletide

By Grace Edet

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to roll out the second phase of the ‘Ounje Eko’ Farmers’ Subsidy Programme before the end of the month.
The initiative is aimed at supporting farmers across the state and enhancing access to quality feed to boost production.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, made the announcement during a press conference at Alausa, Ikeja, describing the initiative as a “critical intervention of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration” designed to sustain food production, empower farmers, and stabilise food prices, especially during the yuletide season.
“Building on the success of the first phase, Governor Sanwo-Olu has approved Phase II to expand the programme’s reach and scope, providing greater support to farmers across different value chains,” Olusanya said.
The commissioner noted that the first phase, launched earlier this year, directly benefited over 5,000 farmers, supplying 993.3 metric tons of poultry feed and 265.65 metric tons of fish feed. She said the programme sustained 258,000-layer birds, resulting in over seven million eggs and 177,100 catfish, with egg prices dropping from ₦6,000 per crate to between ₦5,000 and ₦5,400.
Phase II will introduce a 25 per cent subsidy on poultry feed, including layer mash, broiler starter, and finisher—alongside a 25 per cent subsidy on fish feed. Other interventions include free distribution of grains to pig farmers, and the provision of agricultural equipment and inputs to crop farming clusters to promote mechanisation and reduce manual labour.
The programme will operate across 10 strategic locations, including Farm Service Centre, Agege; Agricultural Training Institute, Araga; Epe Coconut House, Mowo; Badagry Fish Farm Estate, Odongunyan; Erikorodo Poultry Estate, Ikorodu; Aiyedoto Poultry Estate, Ojo; Ministry of Agriculture Cooperative Office, Ajah; and the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
Olusanya emphasised that participation will be restricted to registered farmer associations such as the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter (PAN-LAG); Lagos State Catfish Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN); and Farm Estate and Settlement Associations, to ensure transparency and accountability.
The state government advised farmers to register with relevant associations to benefit from the support, reiterating its commitment to strengthening the state’s food security and agricultural value chains.