The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has launched a training programme for 700 women farmers in Kwara State under the third phase of its Green Hope Project, Open-Field Horticulture, as the federal agency intensifies efforts to improve food security, expand commercial vegetable production, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
The beneficiaries, selected from eight horticulture clusters across Kwara State, including Iponrin, Tsaragi, Asa, Oke-Onigbin, Ijara Isin, Esie, Ilale, and Moro, are undergoing intensive practical training at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) in Ilorin.
Speaking at the programme’s inauguration, NALDA Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Adebayo, said the initiative is designed to decentralise vegetable production by bringing cultivation closer to consumers, reducing transportation costs, limiting post-harvest losses, and improving the availability of fresh produce throughout the year.
According to Adebayo, the Green Hope Project aims to empower 5,000 women nationwide, with more than 500 hectares of farmland already developed for commercial horticulture. The programme extends beyond land allocation by providing beneficiaries with improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation facilities, extension services, technical training, and other agricultural inputs required to establish sustainable farming enterprises.
He noted that the project is being implemented across 38 locations nationwide to ensure broad geographic coverage and greater participation in commercial agriculture. Participants have also been provided accommodation at ARMTI to enable them to complete the training without logistical constraints.
NALDA said the Green Hope Project adopts a three-tier production model comprising open-field horticulture, standard greenhouses, and advanced climate-controlled greenhouses. The integrated approach is intended to support year-round vegetable production regardless of seasonal weather conditions, helping stabilise supply and strengthen Nigeria’s food system.
Each beneficiary is allocated approximately 1,000 square metres of farmland under the open-field component. Project sites are equipped with solar-powered irrigation systems, sanitation facilities, rest areas, changing rooms, and clean cooking facilities to improve productivity and farmers’ welfare. The initiative also incorporates agroforestry, with trees planted around farm boundaries to improve environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Executive Dean of ARMTI, Dr. Oluwafemi Oladuni, said the institute’s partnership with NALDA is focused on equipping participants with practical skills that can be translated into profitable agribusiness ventures. He described women as central to agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Oloyede Ibukunoluwa, said the programme had introduced participants to improved tomato cultivation and other modern horticultural practices that could significantly increase yields and farm income.
The Green Hope Project aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to enhance domestic food production at a time of rising food prices and supply chain challenges. By increasing the participation of women in commercial agriculture and expanding local vegetable production, the programme is expected to support household incomes, strengthen food availability, and contribute to long-term agricultural resilience.
