The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has unveiled a nationwide greenhouse farming initiative to improve vegetable production, empowering young agripreneurs, and supporting women farmers across Nigeria.

Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the project is a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to achieve year-round food production and reduce its dependence on seasonal vegetable farming.

During an inspection visit to the University of Abuja’s greenhouse complex, NALDA Executive Secretary Cornelius Adebayo said the programme will modernise vegetable cultivation while creating sustainable employment for youth and women.

“The greenhouse project is in three phases because one of our biggest challenges is overreliance on seasonal production,” Adebayo explained. 

“Mr President graciously approved the establishment of mega high-tech greenhouses across the country to ensure food availability all year round.”

The initiative includes the construction of three high-tech, temperature-controlled greenhouses in strategic zones nationwide, alongside net-house facilities in Abuja and Ogun State.

“In Giri, Abuja, we have 20 greenhouse units with one nursery, while in Shagamu, Ogun State, there are 30 units and another nursery,” Adebayo said. 

“Each site has a packing house, cold storage, and solar energy facilities for sustainable operation.”

He noted that the greenhouse clusters would bring production closer to consumers, helping to cut transportation costs and post-harvest losses. 

“They are strategically located to serve major markets such as Abuja and Lagos,” he added.

Under the youth empowerment component, NALDA will engage young farmers to manage the facilities. 

Each participant will operate two net houses as independent agripreneurs under NALDA’s supervision. 

“The goal is to engage youth productively while boosting food supply,” Adebayo said.

The women’s empowerment segment focuses on open-field vegetable cultivation across every federal constituency. 

“We plan at least 10 hectares per constituency, with 100 women cultivating crops such as pepper, tomatoes, and leafy greens,” he revealed.

Cross River, Taraba, Plateau, and Gombe States pilot sites are already undergoing land clearing and irrigation installation. 

The Abuja greenhouse facility is expected to become fully operational by December 2025, and others will follow in early 2026.

Adebayo emphasised that greenhouse farming is “100% safe and organic,” noting that the system provides controlled conditions that optimise plant growth. 

He clarified that the programme is not a loan scheme but a government-backed empowerment initiative to remove infrastructural barriers for smallholder farmers.

“At NALDA, our role is to provide the enabling environment for agriculture to thrive. Once infrastructure is in place, farmers will do the rest,” he said.

He further disclosed that 10 young farmers will initially manage the first 20 greenhouses in Abuja, with expansion plans to 50 units in Abuja and Shagamu. 

He also appealed to state governments and local communities to provide more land to scale the project.

Adebayo highlighted the project’s economic benefits and said the greenhouse clusters would stabilise vegetable prices through coordinated production and offtake planning.

“With structured clusters, we can influence price stability without enforcing price controls,” he explained.

He concluded that the initiative supports NALDA’s broader vision of decentralising food production, reducing post-harvest losses, and promoting urban agriculture near major cities.

“As the giant of Africa, we must produce our vegetables year-round. This project ensures that fresh, affordable produce is always within reach,” Adebayo said.

The NALDA Greenhouse Project will produce tomatoes, peppers, avocados, and other vegetables, while offering training opportunities for young Nigerians through partnerships with universities and agricultural institutions.

Source: Business Day

Image Credit: Leadership News