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•Says farmlands dying from bush burning
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The federal government is advancing its soil conservation agenda with targeted measures to curb bush burning.
Agriculture ministry officials have stated that repeated fires are accelerating farmland degradation, threatening agricultural output and affecting rural economies.
The renewed push comes as most rural farmers rely on bush burning as a prelude to the planting of crops, especially during the dry season.
However, this destructive practice, unbeknownst to many farmers, cuts back crop yield, despite the application of fertiliser and other inputs designed to boost production.
Nonetheless, the federal government recently announced measures to curb the traditional practice.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Ogunbiyi, said that in no time, farmers would be made to embrace modern agriculture techniques to protect soil health, improve yields and reduce emissions.
Ogunbiyi, who made this known at the Close-out workshop on the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector in Abuja, noted that the workshop’s theme: “Local Action, National Impact: Building Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture”, was carefully chosen to deal with various inhibitions of bountiful harvests.
He said the move would not merely conclude a project cycle, but would rather mark an important milestone in Nigeria’s collective effort to confront climate change through practical, farmer-centered, and scalable agricultural solutions, particularly in reducing short-lived climate pollutants that pose immediate risks to the environment, health, and food systems.
He said the project, implemented by Self Help Africa, is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with funding support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
According to him, the initiative would need partnerships with stakeholders in translating global climate commitments into local action.
He further stated that Nigeria’s Climate Change Act of 2021 provides a clear legal and institutional framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions, climate-resilient development, and sustainable economic growth.
He added that within the framework, agriculture would occupy a strategic position, as it is both highly vulnerable to climate impacts and a significant source of methane and black carbon emissions.
While citing Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), he said the agricultural sector remains a priority for mitigation and adaptation-particularly through, reduction of methane emissions, improved residue management, and promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.
He explained that the SLCP Abatement Project directly supports the national priorities and contributes meaningfully to the NDC Implementation Roadmap.
Speaking further, he explained that the Short-lived climate pollutants-especially black carbon from open field burning, and methane from rice cultivation and livestock system are among the most potent contributors to near-term global warming. “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.
“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.
“This project has convincingly demonstrated that climate mitigation, adaptation, and food security can be pursued simultaneously, not in isolation,” he said.
He, therefore, called on development partners to support scale-up initiatives, longer implementation horizons, and results-based financing models; Financial institutions to design tailored products that support farmers adopting low-emission and climate-smart practices;
The permanent secretary added that extension agents and farmers should remain ambassadors of no-burn agriculture and resilient farming systems, noting that together, these actions will ensure that the lessons of this project translate into lasting national impact.
Director of Lands and Climate Change Management Services, Oshadiya Olanipekun, on his part, reiterated that the Short-lived climate pollutants which include; methane and black carbon pose serious risks to the climate, air quality and public health.
Olanipekun said: “In Nigeria, where agriculture remains a major economic driver and a significant emissions source, addressing SLCPs offers a unique opportunity to reduce global warning, improve environment health and enhance agricultural productivity”.
In her remarks, the Country Representative, Self Help Africa, Joy Aderele, stated that the project has also strengthened the agriculture extension system, built farmer capacity and generated evidence to inform policy and national action.
Representatives of the attendance were Benue State government, Oxfarm, IITA, WFP, CCA Project Manager.
A farmer, Abdullahi Musa, said the initiative would be difficult to achieve, adding that most farmers especially in rural areas would find it difficult to adapt.
“The government needs to understand that bush burning has been a long time practice for farmers.
“Aside from clearing and burning bushes for cultivation, it is another means for farmers to catch animals and fetch firewood.
“If the new initiative would not add value to farmers, then it would be difficult for farmers to embrace it. So, the government should think about it thoroughly before implementing it,” he said.
