In a continued effort to boost local food production and empower rural entrepreneurs, the BATN Foundation has expanded its long-standing agricultural partnership with the Lagos State Government by launching a new poultry development initiative dubbed “Chicks to Plate.” Implemented in collaboration with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA), the project will provide practical training in modern poultry management, biosecurity, and agribusiness practices to 200 prospective and practicing farmers, with 40 layer farmers receiving additional enterprise support packages to scale their operations.
This transition marks a significant milestone in an eight-year collaboration between the Foundation and the state. Between 2018 and 2025, their joint “Fingerlings to Fork” initiative successfully trained over 1,400 fish farmers in modern aquaculture, equipping them with practical processing tools, tarpaulin ponds, and export-readiness skills. Building on that foundation, shifting into poultry aims to address key operational challenges while making affordable animal protein more accessible across the region.
The initiative aligns directly with Lagos State's broader food security goals. State officials estimate that Lagos currently produces roughly 25% of the food it consumes, with active strategies underway to double that figure to 50%. Expanding local poultry farming is seen as a vital step toward generating employment, strengthening value chains, and building resilience against external supply shocks.
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Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Oludare Odusanya, Executive Director of the BATN Foundation, noted that sustainable agricultural development goes beyond training; it requires equipping farmers with practical skills, improving productivity, and creating opportunities that translate into lasting economic empowerment. Concurrently, LSADA leadership emphasized that the project will bolster extension services, ensuring farmers are well-prepared with modern techniques to improve their livelihoods and contribute directly to the state's agricultural independence.
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