An environmental health specialist, Dr. Festus Imuk, has advocated for the widespread adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on Nigeria’s agricultural productivity.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, Imuk emphasized that the government should prioritize promoting drought-resistant crops, improving irrigation systems, integrating renewable energy sources, and boosting education and financial access for farmers.
He highlighted that climate change is already diminishing agricultural output in Nigeria, posing threats to rural livelihoods and national food security.
“The impacts manifest through erratic rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events,” Imuk explained. “These affect crops, livestock, fisheries, and farm incomes, with particularly severe consequences given that the majority of Nigerian farming remains rain-fed.”
The specialist stressed that advancing climate-smart agriculture involves developing and distributing improved seed varieties resilient to extreme weather conditions. He also recommended encouraging practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and mixed farming to diversify risks.
“The government should further promote mulching, cover crops, and rainwater harvesting to preserve soil fertility and moisture,” he added.
Imuk called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate closely with climate change agencies for more coordinated efforts.
He advocated for the establishment of dedicated climate information services to provide farmers with timely alerts on droughts, floods, and heatwaves.
“Deforestation must be halted, while sustainable land management practices are actively promoted,” Imuk said.
Additionally, he urged the promotion of digital tools, including mobile apps delivering weather forecasts, pest alerts, and market price information.
“Solar-powered irrigation and cold storage systems can reduce emissions while enhancing resilience,” he noted. “Likewise, climate-friendly machinery can lessen reliance on manual labour and boost overall efficiency.”
