The project, known as “Chicks to Plate,” is being implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) and is designed to equip participants with practical skills in modern poultry production, farm management and agribusiness.
The initiative is expected to support farmers not only with technical knowledge but also with the business skills required to improve productivity, manage farm operations and build commercially viable enterprises.
As part of the programme, 40 participating layer farmers will receive additional enterprise support to help them expand their poultry businesses, according to BATN Foundation.
The project represents a new phase in the foundation’s agricultural partnership with the Lagos State Government, which dates back to 2018.
From Fish Farming to Poultry
The partnership initially focused on aquaculture through the “Fingerlings to Fork” programme, which was designed to improve the capacity and productivity of fish farmers in the state.
Between 2018 and 2025, the programme trained 1,436 fish farmers in modern aquaculture practices, processing, packaging, export readiness and farm management.
Participants also received production assets, including fish-smoking kilns and tarpaulin ponds, to help translate the training into increased production and income.
With the launch of “Chicks to Plate,” the partnership is now extending its focus to poultry, another critical component of the state's food system.
The expansion comes against the backdrop of Lagos' efforts to increase the amount of food produced within the state. The state government currently estimates that local production accounts for about 25 per cent of food consumed in Lagos, with a target of raising the figure to 50 per cent.
Speaking on the initiative, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, represented by the Director of Agribusiness, Aramide Gansallo, said poultry could play a significant role in achieving the state's food and employment objectives.
According to her, increased poultry production could improve access to animal protein while creating jobs and strengthening agricultural value chains.
Focus on Productivity and Enterprise
Beyond technical poultry production, the programme is intended to address some of the operational challenges that limit the growth of small and medium-scale farms.
Participants will receive training in modern production methods, farm management, agribusiness and biosecurity. The latter is particularly important in poultry farming, where disease outbreaks can significantly affect productivity, profitability and the sustainability of farm operations.
The emphasis on enterprise development reflects a broader shift towards helping farmers build businesses capable of generating consistent income rather than limiting agricultural interventions to basic technical training.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Emmanuel Audu, described the project as a continuation of the collaboration between the state government and BATN Foundation.
Audu, who was represented by Bukola Idowu, said the experience gained from the “Fingerlings to Fork” programme had created a foundation for expanding the partnership into poultry production.
The move also reflects an effort to replicate lessons from the aquaculture programme across another important agricultural value chain.
‘Training Alone Is Not Enough’
Executive Director of BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said sustainable agricultural development required interventions that went beyond classroom training.
“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” initiative builds on the foundation's experience working with the Lagos State Government and is intended to contribute to food security while creating opportunities for agricultural livelihoods.
The programme's combination of technical training and enterprise support is expected to give participants a stronger foundation for improving their farm operations and responding to the commercial demands of the poultry market.
Programme Manager at LSADA, Aderonke TojuTubi, said the project would also strengthen agricultural extension services by providing farmers with practical knowledge and modern production techniques.
Lagos Targets Greater Local Food Production
The poultry initiative comes at a time when Lagos is seeking to increase local food production and reduce its dependence on supplies brought into the state from other parts of the country.
With its large and growing population, Lagos remains a major market for agricultural products, creating significant opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses while also placing pressure on food supply systems.
Increasing production within the state could therefore help strengthen food availability while creating employment across farming, processing, transportation, distribution and other related activities.
The “Chicks to Plate” project is consequently positioned not only as a farmer-training programme but also as part of a broader effort to strengthen the poultry value chain and improve the economic opportunities available to agricultural producers.
For BATN Foundation and the Lagos State Government, the transition from aquaculture to poultry marks an expansion of an eight-year partnership that has increasingly focused on practical interventions designed to improve farmers' productivity and incomes.
The latest initiative reinforces the partnership's broader objective of using targeted agricultural development programmes to support livelihoods, strengthen food systems and contribute to Lagos State's ambition of increasing the proportion of food produced locally.