By Chinyere Anyanwu
As part of its contribution to Nigeria’s climate change mitigation efforts, One Acre Fund Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, has launched the distribution of over 2.3 million Albizia Lebbeck and Moringa tree seedlings to approximately 82,150 smallholder farmers in Nasarawa State.The initiative was flagged off on Sunday in the Adogi community of Lafia Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, Zainab Haruna of Trees Lead at One Acre Fund Nigeria, explained that the project aims not only to combat climate change but also to empower rural farmers with high-quality agricultural inputs. According to her, the ultimate goal is to eradicate poverty, eliminate hunger, and improve the livelihoods of farming communities across the state.
Haruna explained that the gesture was done in order to reduce the devastating effects of climate change in the state, adding that tree planting is part of the avenues the organisation uses to support farmers to continue to feed themselves, their families and generally enjoy financial stability.
She further explained that if the trees are well nurtured, the farmers will be able to harvest the trees when they reach maturity and enjoy their numerous environmental benefits, which include protecting their farmlands from erosion. She added that they will also be able to sell some of the trees for furniture purposes. Haruna said, “in 2025, One Acre Fund Nigeria aims to reach 471,700 smallholder farmers across the three states of Nasarawa, Kwara and Niger with 12.5 million tree seedlings.
“Out of this total, Nasarawa State alone will receive 2,300,200 pieces of tree seedlings which will be distributed to 82,150 farmers in the state. This is a testament to our commitment to driving Nigeria’s agroforestry transformation.
“We are offering this programme because we have seen changes on our lands as climate change continues to have negative effects on them by damaging nutrients within the soil and affecting rainfalls, among other challenges that our farmers face on a regular basis.”
She, therefore, appealed to the beneficiaries to plant the seedlings and take care of them, expressing confidence that in the coming years, the trees would serve as an additional source of income that could sustain them and their families.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Umar Tanko Tunga, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Lidia Kyari, commended One Acre Fund Nigeria for the empowerment programme.
The commissioner further reiterated the state government’s commitment to continue to support and partner organisations that are making efforts to mitigate the issues of climate change in the state.