As Nigeria grapples with the need to diversify her economy, University of Ibadan Women Society (UIWS) has organized a training programme for women and youth on tree-planting which an agricultural expert described as a “very lucrative business that is unknown to many”.
Tree-planting is one of the AgroImpact Projects of Dr. Eyiwumi Olayinka-led UIWS, including AgroImpact Cassava, Maize, Banana/Plantain, and Tomato/Pepper preservation and modernization with each category being headed by a distinguished scholar from a relevant field.
However, 25 registered participants recently turned up for the maiden training programme on tree-planting which took place at a site located between Ajibode and Shasha, culminating in raising seedlings and transplanting seedlings into poly pot .
Speaking on the importance of the project, an Agricultural Expert, Dr. Adejoke Akinyele of the Department of Forest Resources Management , UI , remarked that tree-planting business was quite lucrative as the investor “does not need to wait till the trees grow to maturity before beginning to make money”
According to Dr. Akinyele , “tree-planting takes time. But the participants do not need to wait till the trees grow to maturity before beginning to make money. They can be making money through a tree-nursery in which they can sell in large quantity to those who are going to plant for long gestation ”
The expert who was one of the resource persons disclosed that the participants were taught how to plant Gmelina arborea and Tectona grandis known as teak, pointing out that these were important trees in furniture -making and other tree-related engagements.
Dr. Akinyele who commended the initiative of Dr. Olayinka stated that many people did not know that tree-planting was a lucrative business , which she noted that could greatly reduce poverty in the land.
Other resource persons were Prof. Oluwafemi Oluwadare, Dr. S.O. Olajuyigbe, Mr. H.T. Fatoba and Dr. Oluwatoyin Olugbire, according to a statement by the school’s spokesman, Sunday Saanu.
University of Ibadan Women Society Trains Women, Youth on Tree-planting
