About 9,000 farmers in Kwara state have received a total of 260,000 tree seedlings to improve the environment, food nutrients, erosion control, and income generation, among others. The distribution was anchored by One Acre Fund Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, as an effort to address the increase in cases of deforestation recently.
Speaking during the free distribution of the tree seedlings in Jebba, Moro local government area of the state, the group’s team leader Mr. Alfred Adzoyi, said that the project was also targeted at boosting the income of smallholder farmers in the state. Adzoyi said that 27 trees were given to each of the farmers, and added that the project would help protect the environment, combat climate change, diversify the income of farmers, and improve soil fertility.
He said, “Benefits of the trees include the fact that they grow quickly, leaves can be used as fodder, can be used for erosion control of soil, fix nitrogen in soil, and improve soil fertility.
“Soil is improved if dropped leaves are left to decompose. Shade for the house and boundary marker. Provides nutrients for food.
“Fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility. Seeds can be sold to generate income. Provides shade for crops. Has medicinal properties. Leaves and pods can be used as livestock feed. Drought resistant.”
Also speaking, the director of forestry in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Babatunde Idris, who represented the state commissioner, said that the programme would help complement the efforts of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the environment. Idris assured that the programme was capable of boosting smallholder farmers’ financial capabilities.
