The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) says it is developing climate-smart farm estates powered by solar energy and electric machinery as part of efforts to reduce farmers’ dependence on rainfall and promote sustainable agricultural production.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Cornelius Adebayo, disclosed this during a session on green industrialisation, critical minerals and energy security at the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
Adebayo explained that the agency was piloting a farm estate where electric bulldozers would be used for land clearing, while electric tractors and solar-powered irrigation systems would support farming activities and reduce carbon emissions.
He said the initiative was also expected to attract carbon credit financing, adding that NALDA hoped to earn carbon credits from the proposed climate-friendly farm estates.
According to him, unpredictable rainfall during the current planting season has exposed the challenges of rain-fed agriculture, making the transition to irrigation-based farming increasingly necessary.
He disclosed that NALDA was working with investors to provide solar irrigation facilities to farmers under a payment model based on the hectares cultivated.
Adebayo acknowledged that electric machinery and clean-energy systems were more expensive than conventional equipment, noting that the Bank of Industry and other development finance institutions would be important in providing affordable financing.
The agency is also promoting an anchor-based farming model to reduce the financial burden on smallholder farmers. Under the arrangement, farmers receive land, training, seeds, fertiliser and other inputs through anchor investors, who also provide mechanisation services and purchase their produce after harvest.
He explained that the arrangement would transfer much of the production risk to anchor investors rather than individual farmers, with agricultural insurance and other risk-sharing institutions providing additional protection.
On rural security, Adebayo said NALDA planned to deploy drones to monitor farm boundaries and detect threats around agricultural estates, while organised farming settlements would make security operations easier.
He added that the initiative would attract young people by providing facilities such as housing, solar-powered electricity, clean water and recreational centres within farm communities.
Separately, NALDA disclosed that its Green Hope Project had mobilised more than 400 volunteers to plant approximately 5,000 trees across five locations in Ogun, Plateau and Kwara states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
The 50-hectare project involves planting mango, avocado and coconut trees to promote environmental restoration, improve food production and create future income opportunities for farming communities.
The agency said the initiative was designed to integrate tree planting into agricultural production while improving soil protection, biodiversity and resilience to climate-related challenges.
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