The Unique Food Festival is set to subsidise the price of agro-produce for residents and prevent post-harvest losses for farmers in Lagos State.
The convener of the food festival, Mrs Bridget Okonofua, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the second edition of the food festival will host over 200 vendors as residents will have the opportunity to buy foodstuffs at discounted prices.
The three-day food festival will hold on May 22 to 24 at Ikeja.
Okonofua said the food festival would be an opportunity to bridge the gap from the farm to the table, connecting farmers with middlemen, processors and the ultimate consumers.
“The food festival is an initiative we connect the farm to the table. It is an opportunity where farmers meet processors, marketers, packagers, and every stakeholder in agriculture and the food industry.
“The festival endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems will bridge the gap between the farmers and the ultimate consumers at a lower costs.
“We understand the pain farmers go through in the sector, so the festival is also beneficial to the consumers because they can get produce at more affordable prices.
“We know how inflation is affecting the purchasing power of most people, so the food festival will come in handy.
“At the three-day food festival, we are working hand in hand with our farmers and the vendors, to make sure that there is a discount for agro-produce sold,” Okonofua said.
She noted that the festival would include culinary skills training cooking competition and Masterclass for interested participants.
“We help farmers that are having difficulty with sales. It will be a platform for farmers to meet processors and also for processors to meet out-growers, who can grow in bulk for them.
“This is a new way connecting those across the value chain. We are expecting about 200 and above farmers vendors at the festival and hope to reach as many as possible.
“As part of the festival, there will be culinary training and masterclass for interested participants,” the convener said.
