The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) is building a special modern farms that use sunlight for power and electric machines so farmers do not have to wait or pray for rain to grow crops.
He said the agency hopes to earn carbon credits from the estates to help fund them.
The first pilot estate will use electric bulldozers to clear land, electric tractors for farm work and solar-powered irrigation.
Adebayo said this year’s unpredictable rains had hit farmers who had already planted, which shows why Nigeria needs to move from rain-fed farming to irrigation.
Adebayo admitted that clean machinery costs more than conventional equipment, and said development banks such as the Bank of Industry could help close the funding gap.
He also described an “anchor” model, in which an investor provides land, inputs, training and equipment, and buys the harvest after it is gathered, taking the losses if a crop fails.
He said the model means smallholder farmers do not need to raise all the money up front.
Its Green Hope Project, which has involved more than 400 volunteers, has planted about 5,000 trees across five sites in Ogun, Plateau, Kwara and the FCT.
The trees include mango, avocado and coconut, which will provide food and income as they mature.