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Experts seek adoption of climate adaptation strategies to boost agriculture

By From Cornelius Essen, Abuja
25 March 2023   |   4:29 am
Disturbed by the effects of climate change, experts in environment and agriculture have called on Nigerian farmers to combine the various climate adaptation strategies to increase income earning and boost food security for the teeming population

Disturbed by the effects of climate change, experts in environment and agriculture have called on Nigerian farmers to combine the various climate adaptation strategies to increase income earning and boost food security for the teeming population.

They spoke this at a workshop on Climate Adaptation Support Programme, organised by AKADEMIYA2063, in partnership with Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and the Global Centre on Adaptation in Abuja.

The Director of the Centre, Dr. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said they intended to validate research findings, which “are meant to facilitate Nigeria’s implementation of the National Action Plan on climate change.”

He said that empirical evidence showed that small-holder farmers fared better when they adopt multiple climate strategies, such as diversified cropping system, use of improved seedlings, and the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

He, therefore, sought the adoption of one of the strategies to increase the farmers’ income, when compared to non-adoption, saying: “The highest farm income will be achieved when farmers adopt all the practices jointly, rather than partially.”

Also, an Associate Researcher at REPRC-EfD Nigeria, Dr. Henry Okoduwa, said: “Climate change will reduce Nigeria’s economic output, in terms of Gross Domestic Product by 4.2 per cent,” adding that the simulation scenarios are built through an exhaustive review of existing literature to collect evidence on the impact of climate change and adaptation options on agricultural productivity.

Another expert, Dr. Mahamadou Tankari, said the programme was aimed at contributing to the adaptation solution in Nigeria and other African countries by providing data and frameworks for analysis to answer key questions on climate adaptation.

He said it would also guide policy harmonisation, interventions as well as priority actions that can help meet the objectives of the different policy initiative for climate adaptation.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Other participants at the event included the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, National Adaptation Plan Strategy, REDD+ Secretariat, National Climate Change Council, and Agro-industrial Processing Zones Program, among others.

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