The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commenced training of over 700 women farmers in Kwara State under its Green Hope Project (Phase III-Open-Field Horticulture) as part of efforts to boost food production and strengthen food security in Nigeria.
The beneficiaries, drawn from horticulture clusters across Iponrin, Tsaragi, Asa, Oke-Onigbin, Ijara Isin, Esie, Ilale and Moro, are undergoing intensive training in modern farming techniques at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Mr. Olusegun Adebayo, said the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering women, creating sustainable livelihoods and increasing agricultural productivity.
Adebayo said the Green Hope Project is being implemented in 38 locations nationwide, with NALDA ensuring that every federal constituency benefits from the programme.
He explained that the project was deliberately designed to empower women, noting that investing in women has a ripple effect on families and communities.
‘When you train a woman, you train an entire community,’ he said.
According to him, more than 5,000 women will benefit from the programme across the country, while over 500 hectares of farmland have been developed to support commercial horticulture. He added that beneficiaries would receive practical training, improved farm inputs and other support needed to build profitable farming enterprises.
The NALDA boss also said that hostel accommodation had been provided for participants to enable them to fully participate in the training.
Also speaking, the Executive Dean of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Oluwafemi Oladunni, said the institute partnered with NALDA to equip beneficiaries with the knowledge and practical skills required to improve agricultural production and support the nation’s food security drive.
He said the collaboration is aimed at moving beneficiaries from training to active participation in farming, stressing that women remain key to achieving sustainable agricultural development and improving household food production.
One of the beneficiaries, Oloyede Ibukunoluwa, described the training as timely and impactful, saying participants had been exposed to modern tomato cultivation techniques and best agronomic practices.
She expressed confidence that the knowledge gained during the programme would help her establish a successful farming enterprise and improve her livelihood.
The Green Hope Project is one of NALDA’s flagship interventions designed to expand access to productive farmland, empower women through commercial agriculture and support the Federal Government’s efforts to achieve national food security.