BATN Foundation, Lagos deepen partnership with poultry initiative

BATN Foundation has launched a poultry development project in Lagos that will train 200 prospective and existing poultry farmers, as the foundation expands its agricultural partnership with the state government to strengthen food production and create livelihoods. The “Chicks to Plate” project, implemented with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, will provide participants with practical training in modern poultry production, farm management and agribusiness. According to a statement on Tuesday, 40 of the participating layer farmers will also receive additional enterprise support to help expand their businesses, according to the foundation. The project marks the latest phase of an eight-year partnership between BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government, which began in 2018 with the “Fingerlings to Fork” programme focused on aquaculture. Between 2018 and 2025, the programme trained 1,436 fish farmers in modern aquaculture, processing, packaging, export readiness and farm management, while providing production assets including fish-smoking kilns and tarpaulin ponds. The new poultry initiative comes as Lagos seeks to increase the share of food consumed in the state that is produced locally. The state government currently estimates local food production at about 25 per cent and is targeting 50 per cent, according to Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya. Olusanya, represented by Aramide Gansallo, director of agribusiness, said poultry has the potential to improve access to animal protein while creating employment and strengthening agricultural value chains. The programme is also intended to address some of the operational challenges facing farmers by providing training in modern production methods and agribusiness management. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Audu, described the project as an extension of the partnership between the state government and BATN Foundation. Audu, represented by Bukola Idowu, said the experience from the “Fingerlings to Fork” programme provided a basis for extending the partnership into poultry production. Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya said agricultural development requires more than training, with farmers also needing practical tools and access to opportunities that can improve the commercial viability of their businesses. “At BATN Foundation, we believe sustainable agricultural development goes beyond training. It is about equipping farmers with practical skills, improving productivity, strengthening value chains and creating opportunities that translate into lasting economic empowerment,” Odusanya said. He said the “Chicks to Plate” project builds on the foundation’s work with the Lagos government and is intended to support food security and agricultural livelihoods. The initiative also includes training on biosecurity and modern poultry production, areas that can affect productivity and the resilience of poultry businesses. Programme Manager at LSADA, Aderonke TojuTubi, said the project would strengthen agricultural extension services by giving farmers practical knowledge and modern production techniques. The initiative represents a shift in the partnership from aquaculture into poultry, while maintaining its broader focus on improving farmers’ productivity and incomes. For Lagos, expanding local agricultural production is increasingly important as the state works to improve food availability and reduce pressure from its dependence on supplies from outside the state. The partnership between the government and BATN Foundation is therefore moving beyond individual farmer training towards interventions designed to strengthen specific agricultural value chains, with poultry now the latest focus.