FG boosts efforts to protect agriculture from climate change
The Federal Government has taken another major step to mitigate the impact of climate change on Nigeria’s agricultural sector with the inauguration of a climate-smart agriculture project.
During the project close-out workshop in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the initiative was designed to reduce the effects of climate change by addressing short-lived climate pollutants across farming communities.
Dr Ogunbiyi explained that the project, implemented by Self Help Africa in partnership with the Ministry and funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, focused on discouraging open field burning while promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
He noted that the project recorded significant successes, with many farmers adopting improved practices such as water-efficient rice production, sustainable farm residue management, and environmentally friendly land-use techniques.
Also speaking, the Director of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Management Services in the Ministry, Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun, described the project as timely, noting that it aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and the country’s long-term low-emission development strategy.
In her remarks, the Country Director of Self Help Africa, Mrs Joy Aderele, commended the Federal Government, development partners, and farming communities for their strong collaboration and commitment to the project’s success.
The close-out workshop, themed “Local Action, National Impact: Building Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture,” underscores Nigeria’s growing resolve to tackle climate change while strengthening sustainable agricultural development and food security.
Editing by Abdullahi Lamino
