In a major boost to food security and environmental sustainability, more than 46,550 smallholder farmers in Kwara State have received over 1.3 million fast-growing and income-generating tree seedlings. The distribution was flagged off during a ceremony at Morafa Nursery, Onikpako Village near Jebba, as part of One Acre Fund Nigeria’s efforts to support the federal government’s afforestation and climate resilience agenda.
Speaking at the event, Mr Fred Adzoyi, Team Lead of One Acre Fund Nigeria, revealed that the seedlings—ranging from mango and cashew to citrus, oil palm, and the panseke tree—are aimed at transforming vulnerable communities into hubs of environmental restoration. He emphasized that the initiative is not just about planting trees but about providing long-term benefits like fruit harvests, timber, and improved soil fertility for farmers who are already facing the harsh impacts of climate change.
Adzoyi also noted that the 2025 campaign in Kwara is a significant expansion from last year’s efforts. In 2024, over 6.5 million trees were distributed to nearly 250,000 farmers across Kwara, Niger, and Nasarawa states. He warned that Nigeria is losing its forest cover at a rapid rate of 350,000 hectares per year—a trend that threatens food systems, water resources, and biodiversity. Through the programme, farmers become active participants in climate action, receiving technical support and gaining access to new income streams through high-value trees.
Representing the Kwara State government, the Commissioner for Environment, Hajiya Nafisa Musa Buge, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture. She said agroforestry is a critical step toward enhancing farm productivity, restoring degraded land, and securing the future of agriculture in the state. “These trees are not just plants—they are tools of transformation for both the land and the lives of our farmers,” she added.
