Improved Yields: FG dumps traditional burning practices for Climate-smart Agriculture
The Federal Government of Nigeria is taking bold steps to transform its agricultural sector by abandoning traditional burning practices for modern, climate-smart techniques. This move aims to protect soil health, boost yields, and reduce emissions.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi disclosed this at the Close-out workshop of the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) Abatement Project in Abuja recently.
The project, implemented by Self Help Africa and funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), focuses on reducing methane and black carbon emissions in the agricultural sector.
Dr. Ogunbiyi highlighted that Nigeria’s Climate Change Act of 2021 provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable economic growth, notung that the agricultural sector is key to this effort, being both vulnerable to climate impacts and a significant emissions source.
According to him, the SLCP Abatement Project supports Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and contributes to the NDC Implementation Roadmap. It promotes climate-smart agriculture, reduces methane emissions, and improves residue management.
The Permanent Secretary added that addressing SLCPs offers a triple-win opportunity: slowing climate warming, improving air quality, and strengthening agricultural productivity, explaining that the project demonstrates that climate mitigation, adaptation, and food security can be pursued together.
Hei therefore called on development partners, financial institutions, and farmers to support scale-up initiatives and adopt climate-smart practices.
In his remarks, the Director Lands and Climate Change Management Services, Mr. Oshadiya Olanipekun, emphasized the risks of SLCPs to climate, air quality, and public health.
“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 environment health and enhance agricultural productivity, ” he said
Self Help Africa’s Country Rep, Mrs. Joy Aderele, noted that the project has strengthened extension systems, built farmer capacity, and generated evidence to inform policy and national action.
According to a statement by Mrs Eremah Anthonia, Agric Ministry’s Asst Director of Information, the event was attended by representatives from government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.
