Nigeria Pilots Climate-Smart Farming With Promising Results

Farmers in Nigeria just proved you can fight climate change and grow more food at the same time.

A pilot project in Benue State showed that simple changes to rice and cowpea farming can slash pollution while helping crops thrive. Instead of burning crop leftovers, which releases harmful black carbon into the air, farmers learned to turn agricultural waste into fuel briquettes using locally made tools.

The results convinced Nigeria's government to expand the approach nationwide. Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security called it a "triple win" that slows warming, cleans the air, and strengthens food security.

Short-lived climate pollutants like methane and black carbon pack a powerful punch. They warm the planet much faster than carbon dioxide, even though they disappear from the atmosphere sooner. In Nigeria, where most people depend on farming for income and food, these pollutants come mainly from open field burning and rice paddies.

The project reached farmers across all six of Nigeria's regions. Participants learned better residue management and alternatives to traditional burning practices. They also adopted techniques that reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation and livestock.

Joy Aderele from Self Help Africa, which ran the project with government support, said the new methods improved soil health and farm productivity while cutting emissions. The program also trained agricultural extension workers to spread the knowledge further.

The Ripple Effect

The success supports Nigeria's climate commitments under its 2021 Climate Change Act and updated national climate goals. Agriculture sits at the heart of both problems, as a major emissions source, and solutions, as a sector that can adapt and reduce pollution simultaneously.

Oshadiya Olanipekun, who directs climate programs at the agriculture ministry, said the workshop reviewing the project creates a blueprint for taking local wins national. The techniques work because they help farmers immediately through better yields and lower costs, not just distant climate benefits.

Nigeria now has proven methods and trained people ready to teach millions more farmers across the country how to grow food that heals the planet instead of harming it.