Kwara, Nasarawa farmers get 12.5m seedlings for tree planting

One Acre Fund Nigeria, a non governmental agency, says arrangements have been concluded to distribute 12.5 million tree seedlings to over 471,000 farmers across Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger States.

Speaking at the official launch of the 2025 Tree Distribution Campaign held in Kwara State, Fred Adzoyi, team lead of the agency, explained that the initiative was part of the effort to combat poverty, improve soil fertility, and ensure farmers have additional income.

Adzoyi said: “This year, the nonprofit plans to distribute 12.5 million tree seedlings to over 471,000 farmers across Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger States.”

“In Kwara alone, more than 46,000 smallholder farmers will receive 1.3 million seedlings, including high-value species such as cashew, mango, and citrus,” he added.

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According to him, the programme aims to restore degraded land, boost household incomes, and protect the environment from further deforestation.

On his part, Kazi Nanyah, communications specialist for the group, emphasised that these trees do more than restore land; they offer long-term economic opportunities for rural families.

“Farmers are on the frontline of climate change. With access to the right tools, like tree seedlings, they can lead the change,” he said.

The campaign, according to Nanyah, is part of a broader effort to promote climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria, adding that the group “has already reached over 243,000 farmers in 2024, and with the expansion in 2025.”

It aimed to deepen impact through large-scale community participation, stronger food systems, and greener landscapes across the country.

Underscoring the urgent need for community-led responses to Nigeria’s alarming deforestation rate, which stands at 350,000 hectares per year, he said, they are jeopardising water sources, biodiversity, and food system.

Smallholder farmers who produce the bulk of the nation’s food are often hardest hit by environmental degradation and least equipped to respond.

“One Acre Fund changes this by providing free, fast-growing and income-generating seedlings – empowering farmers to become frontline climate responders. These trees sequester carbon, prevent erosion, enhance productivity and unlock future income from timber, shade, and fruit,” said the communication expert.

Sharing his experience and how the initiative has aided his farming system and livelihood, Abubakar Ibrahim, a farmer said: “I was here late year for this programme when the One Acre Fund distributed some speedings to us free of charge and I discovered that the tree is more valuable than needs to be planted around.”

Nafisat Musa Buge, commissioner for Environment, Kwara State, noted that the distribution of economic trees to farmers as part of the agroforestry system is an initiative that will not only help improve agricultural productivity but also safeguard our environment for generations to come.

“The Executive Governor of Kwara State Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is committed to a brighter future where farmers can generate income, feed their families, and contribute to the broader goals of food security and environmental conservation.”

“This is done through multi-million dollar visionary investments that have synergistic multiplier effects on livelihood. What we have in common with One Acre Fund is a shared vision and goals in terms of food security and climate action,” he added.

He urged farmers to embrace this new opportunity and continue to work with the One Acre Fund and other partners to maximise the potential of the land.