Eko farmers Mart hit by low awareness

Eko Farmers Mart, Ajah, is being hit by low awareness of residents in the environs as the mart continues to record low patronage.

This was made known to journalists at the weekend when the state re-launched the Ajah farmers’ mart to create awareness. As part of efforts to address the issues of wastages and market access of farm produce, the Lagos State commissioned the Ajah farmers mart in 2011.

“Patronage from residents has been low because the people are not aware of the farmers mart and the construction  of roads has also affected patronage,” said Emmanuel Ijewere, chairman, Best Foods Fresh Farms Limited, during the relaunch of the mart over the weekend.

“The mart serves as an avenue to increase the purchasing power of residents of Ajah and its environs and to encourage farmers to supply their products,” he said.

Ijewere stated that the mart also serves as a way of eliminating the middlemen from the chain of distribution through the direct supplies of farm produce by farmers from their farms to the mart for the consumers.

He called for more sensitization to create more awareness about the farmers’ mart.

The Eko Farmers’ Mart is a public-private partnership initiative to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers by bringing food stuffs closer to the customers thereby assuring their quality and price competitiveness.

The franchise to operate the Ajah farmer’s mart was given to Best Foods Fresh Farms Limited by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, Lagos State.

Also speaking during the re-launch Olatokunbo Ibironke Emokpae, director of fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos State, representing the permanent secretary, said, “There are three farmers mart in the state currently. We have in Alausa, Surulere and Ajah. We are planning for a fourth food mart which will be located in Festac.”