Nigeria reaffirms push for climate-smart farming after pilot project shows results

NIGERIA – Nigeria’s federal government has restated its commitment to climate-smart agriculture, citing positive results from a pilot project that targeted short-lived climate pollutants in the farming sector.

Speaking at the close-out workshop on the Abatement of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in Abuja, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the Climate Change Act of 2021 gives Nigeria a clear framework for low-emission development and climate resilience.

He said agriculture plays a key role because it faces strong climate risks while also contributing to methane and black carbon emissions. He noted that Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions place agriculture at the centre of mitigation and adaptation efforts.

“Although their lifespan in the atmosphere is relatively short, their warming impact is significantly higher than that of carbon dioxide, with serious consequences for air quality, human health, and agricultural sustainability,” Ogunbiyi said.

He added that tackling short-lived climate pollutants offers multiple benefits for the country.

“For Nigeria, where agriculture remains central to livelihoods, employment, and food security, addressing short-lived climate pollutants presents a unique triple-win opportunity: to slow near-term climate warming, to improve air quality and public health, and to strengthen agricultural productivity and resilience,” he said.

Results from the pilot project

Director at the Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services, Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun, said the workshop marked a key step in turning climate commitments into practical actions on farms.

He explained that the project, implemented by Self Help Africa with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the Ministry of Agriculture, showed that climate-smart farming can work in real communities.

“In Nigeria, where agriculture remains a major economic driver and a significant emissions source, addressing SLCPs offers a unique opportunity to reduce global warming, improve environmental health, and enhance agricultural productivity,” Olanipekun said.

He said farmers in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State and across the six geopolitical zones adopted improved rice and cowpea practices, better residue management, and alternatives to open-field burning, including locally made briquettes.

“These interventions not only reduced emissions but also strengthened resilience and livelihoods at the community level,” he said.

Scaling impact beyond pilots

Country Director of Self Help Africa, Mrs Joy Aderele, said the project proved that no-burn practices can reduce black carbon while improving soil health and farm output.

She said the project strengthened extension systems, built farmer skills, and produced evidence that can guide policy and national action.

“The meeting provided an important platform to share results, lessons learned, and field experiences, and to collectively reflect on strategies for sustaining and scaling no-burn practices beyond the life of this project,” she said.

Officials said the project aligns with Nigeria’s national climate goals and agricultural transformation plans. They added that its outcomes will support long-term low-emission strategies and help shape future climate and farming policies.

The government said it will continue to support climate-smart agriculture as a key path toward cleaner air, healthier communities, and stronger food systems in Nigeria.

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