The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has set a target of facilitating the planting of one million economic trees by 2030, combining environmental restoration with agricultural productivity, rural employment and new income opportunities for Nigerian communities.
The initiative forms part of the authority’s expanding efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture, restore degraded landscapes and strengthen rural economies through sustainable tree-crop development.
NALDA Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Cornelius Adebayo, disclosed the target while addressing delegates at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey.
He explained that the programme would encourage young people and rural communities to participate in environmental restoration while creating economic value through productive tree crops such as cashew, cocoa, oil palm and other economically useful species.
According to Adebayo, NALDA has already planted approximately 5,000 economic trees in selected locations under the first phase of its Youth Agroforestry and Climate Action Campaign. The second phase has commenced, targeting an additional 56,000 trees as the authority works towards its broader 2030 ambition.
He said the programme reflects a shift towards agricultural development that considers food production, environmental protection and wealth creation as interconnected priorities.
NALDA Develops 6,200 Hectares of Tree Plantations
Beyond its nationwide tree-planting target, NALDA is developing approximately 6,200 hectares of cashew, cocoa and oil palm plantations across four states under its Community-Based Plantation Development Programme.
The projects cover 1,500 hectares of cashew plantation at Ilero-Babaode in Oyo State and another 1,500 hectares at Joga Orile in Ogun State.
The authority is also developing 2,000 hectares of cocoa plantation at Ifon in Osun State and 1,200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Omotosho in Ondo State.
These plantations are designed to generate long-term agricultural and economic benefits while improving the environmental condition of the surrounding landscapes.
Cashew, cocoa and oil palm offer commercial opportunities through their different agricultural value chains. Beyond harvesting and selling the produce, rural communities can benefit from processing, transportation, storage, marketing and other related activities.
Consequently, the projects could create opportunities for farmers, agricultural workers, small businesses and young people seeking livelihoods within the agricultural sector.
Adebayo explained that the plantations would also support biodiversity, improve soil conditions and contribute to carbon sequestration. He added that NALDA was working to document and verify the environmental benefits of the projects to position eligible agricultural assets for emerging climate-finance opportunities.
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Carbon Credit Opportunities
NALDA’s approach recognises that agricultural development must respond to the growing effects of climate change, including changing rainfall patterns, soil degradation and pressure on productive land.
Agroforestry provides one way to address these challenges by integrating trees into agricultural landscapes. Depending on the species and how farmers manage them, trees can provide shade, improve soil protection, support biodiversity and offer additional sources of income.
Economic trees can also provide longer-term value because farmers may continue harvesting their products over several years after establishment.
However, achieving these benefits requires more than distributing seedlings and planting trees. Farmers and participating communities need access to suitable land, quality planting materials, technical guidance, maintenance support and reliable markets for harvested products.
Tree survival will also depend on appropriate species selection, soil conditions, rainfall patterns and protection against pests, diseases and uncontrolled clearing.
To strengthen the environmental value of its plantations, NALDA is working towards establishing systems for measuring, reporting and verifying carbon sequestration. The agency is also seeking a Letter of No Objection from the National Council on Climate Change to facilitate the registration and commercialisation of eligible carbon credits.
If the necessary requirements are met, carbon-credit opportunities could provide an additional source of revenue for qualifying projects while attracting investment into sustainable agricultural development.
Nevertheless, carbon-credit income will depend on regulatory approval, credible environmental measurements and compliance with applicable standards.
Youth Participation Takes Centre Stage
The Youth Agroforestry and Climate Action Campaign is another important part of the initiative.
Through the campaign, NALDA seeks to mobilise young Nigerians to participate in tree planting, environmental education and community-based climate action.
The first phase has already recorded approximately 5,000 planted trees, while the second phase targets another 56,000. The wider one-million-tree ambition is expected to encourage sustained participation across different communities and agricultural locations.
Youth involvement could also strengthen environmental awareness and create opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills in nursery management, tree cultivation, plantation maintenance and agricultural entrepreneurship.
For rural communities, these activities can complement existing farming operations and support additional income-generating opportunities.
The programme therefore connects environmental responsibility with economic participation rather than treating tree planting as an isolated conservation exercise.
Mega Farm Estates and Women’s Agricultural Participation
Adebayo also disclosed that NALDA was developing three Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estates across Ekiti, Kwara and Bauchi states.
The proposed estates cover approximately 20,000 hectares, comprising 10,000 hectares in Ekiti, 5,000 hectares in Kwara and another 5,000 hectares in Bauchi.
According to the executive secretary, the estates are being developed as integrated agricultural production systems supported by access roads, irrigation facilities, water infrastructure, storage and processing facilities, farm hostels and other essential amenities.
These facilities are intended to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen farmers’ capacity to adapt to changing climatic conditions and reduce some of the infrastructure challenges that limit commercial farming.
He also highlighted NALDA’s Green Hope Open-Field Horticulture Programme, which supports more than 5,000 women across approximately 38 locations nationwide.
The programme provides participating women with access to productive land and opportunities to cultivate high-value horticultural crops, enabling them to participate more actively in agricultural value chains.
By linking horticulture, agroforestry and plantation development, NALDA aims to create agricultural systems that support food production while generating employment and income for rural households.
Aligning Agricultural Development with Nigeria’s Climate Goals
The initiative also reflects the growing importance of integrating climate action into Nigeria’s agricultural development strategy.
As farmers contend with environmental pressures and changing weather conditions, sustainable land management will remain important for protecting agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.
Tree planting can contribute to these objectives, particularly when projects combine suitable species, community participation and long-term maintenance arrangements.
However, the success of NALDA’s one-million-tree target will depend on implementation, transparent monitoring and the ability to sustain planted trees beyond initial planting exercises.
The authority will also need to demonstrate how the plantations translate into measurable environmental improvements, productive agricultural assets and reliable income opportunities for participating communities.
Adebayo reaffirmed NALDA’s commitment to expanding climate-smart agricultural practices and strengthening partnerships to attract climate finance, technology and technical expertise.
He maintained that agricultural land development could deliver food production, wealth creation, employment and environmental protection when projects receive proper planning and management.
Conclusion
NALDA’s target of facilitating the planting of one million economic trees by 2030 represents an effort to connect agricultural development with environmental sustainability and rural economic growth.
With approximately 5,000 trees planted during the first phase of its youth agroforestry campaign and another 56,000 targeted in the second phase, the authority has begun implementing the programme towards its wider ambition.
The development of 6,200 hectares of cashew, cocoa and oil palm plantations across four states further demonstrates its focus on combining productive agriculture with landscape restoration.
Ultimately, the initiative’s impact will depend on the survival and management of the trees, the productivity of the plantations and the extent to which rural communities benefit from the resulting agricultural opportunities.
If effectively implemented, the programme could help strengthen climate resilience, diversify rural incomes and demonstrate how sustainable agriculture can contribute to Nigeria’s long-term economic and environmental priorities.
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