The potential for investment in forestry in Nigeria is high, with agroforestry a real possibility.

An article in Nigeria’s Punch looks at how it is often difficult to fund forestry development when trees can take up to 20 years to reach maturity. With agroforestry, farmers can earn alternative income while the trees are growing.

“The government, large-scale forestry developers and development agencies sometimes use this system to engage farmers who have difficulty with access to farmlands,” says the article. Under such a system, farmers help to develop forest areas and benefit from food crops such as yam, cassava, maize, millet or groundnuts which they intercrop with trees. After 3 to 5 years, the farmers move on, leaving the trees to grow to maturity.

Another agroforestry option is to divide land into compartments and plant these with trees in phases while cropping occurs on the other compartments until the first trees planted reach maturity.

According to the articles author, the large demand for wood for a multitude of uses makes investment in trees a sensible choice. But management is vital and there is a need to implement current trends in forestry management and modern practices.

Read the full story: Investment potential of forestry development