The Federal Government has called on financial institutions to design tailored financing products that will enable farmers to adopt low-emission, climate-smart agricultural practices, aimed at improving air quality, strengthening food systems and boosting climate resilience nationwide.
The call was made by Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), at the close-out workshop and final project dissemination of the Abatement of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (ASLCP) in the Nigerian agricultural sector, held on Thursday in Abuja.
The project, implemented by Self Help Africa in collaboration with FMAFS and funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), focused on reducing open-field burning under the theme “Local Action, National Impact: Building Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture.”
Ogunbiyi urged extension agents and farmers to remain champions of no-burn agriculture and resilient farming systems, while calling on development partners to support scale-up efforts, longer implementation timelines and results-based financing models.
According to him, the project represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to tackle climate change through practical, farmer-centred and scalable solutions, particularly in reducing short-lived climate pollutants that pose immediate risks to the environment, public health and food systems.
He explained that the initiative covered all six geopolitical zones, with a major demonstration site in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Farmers across 20 demonstration plots in 15 communities adopted climate-smart practices, including water-efficient rice production methods that reduce methane emissions.
Other interventions included climate-resilient cowpea cultivation, sustainable residue management and mulching to replace open-field burning, as well as locally fabricated briquette technologies that convert agricultural waste into clean energy.
“The project recorded measurable behavioural change, with farmers abandoning traditional burning practices in favour of conservation agriculture that improves soil health, increases yields and reduces emissions,” Ogunbiyi said, adding that the plots have become community learning centres that promote peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
He highlighted black carbon from open burning and methane from rice cultivation and livestock as major contributors to near-term global warming, noting that although they are short-lived in the atmosphere, their warming impact is far greater than carbon dioxide.
“For Nigeria, where agriculture underpins livelihoods and food security, tackling short-lived climate pollutants offers a triple win — slowing near-term warming, improving air quality and public health, and enhancing agricultural productivity,” he said.
Ogunbiyi said the workshop provided an opportunity to review lessons learned and explore pathways for scaling up successes in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term low-emission development strategies. He called on policymakers, financial institutions, researchers, development partners and farmers to institutionalise gains and mobilise support to sustain SLCP mitigation in agriculture.
Also speaking, Mr Oshadiya Olanipekun, Director of the Department of Agricultural Land and Climate Change Services, described the project as proof that climate-smart agriculture is both achievable and impactful. He noted that farmers adopted improved rice and cowpea practices, sustainable residue management and alternatives to open-field burning, which reduced emissions while strengthening livelihoods.
Mrs Joy Aderele, Country Director of Self Help Africa, said the project demonstrated practical and scalable no-burn alternatives that cut black carbon emissions while improving soil health, productivity and incomes. She added that the initiative strengthened extension systems, built farmer capacity and generated evidence to guide policy and national action.
Aderele commended the FMAFS leadership for its support, noting that sustained collaboration will be key to expanding climate-smart agriculture across Nigeria.