The German government has launched a new project called the Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE) Project. It aims to help 12,000 small farmers grow rice in a climate-friendly way in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kano States.
At the event in Abuja, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther—represented by Deputy Head of Mission Johannes Lehne—spoke about why the project is important.
She said the three-year pilot project, which will run from 2024 to 2027, is meant to prepare the way for farmers to earn benefits from taking part in climate action.
Günther explained that the project’s goal is to make carbon markets work in a way that truly supports small farmers and sustainable development.
She said the German government is funding the project through its Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
It will be carried out by the German agency GIZ, in partnership with Olam Agri.Günther said CORE will encourage smart farming techniques that help reduce greenhouse gases while also improving innovation, business opportunities, and long-term growth in Nigeria’s rice industry.
“There is an urgent need to take real steps to cut emissions and help farming survive the growing effects of climate change,” she said.
She confirmed that Germany is strongly committed to funding climate action. In 2023, the German government gave €9.94 billion and used it to bring in more money from private sources through loans, joint projects, and investments.
She also said that BMZ, along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union, has invested €117 million in farming projects in Nigeria and the West African region.This money is meant to help change the food system in Nigeria by improving food supply, creating jobs, supporting fair growth, and building climate resilience.
Alexis Brakhan, who manages the CORE Project at GIZ, said the project will teach farmers to use better techniques like alternate wetting and drying and biochar to improve soil and reduce emissions.
He said CORE is creating a strong carbon farming model that connects climate-friendly farming with carbon credit markets. The goal is to grow this idea so it can be used more widely.
Paul Nicholson, a senior leader at Olam Agri, said the project shows the company’s dedication to both food security and protecting the environment.
He said carbon credits allow farmers to be part of fighting climate change and give them rewards for using climate-smart methods.
Olamide Fagbuji, a top climate adviser to the Nigerian president, stressed how urgent the project is. He said Nigeria loses about \$100 million every year due to floods caused by climate change.
He also said rice, Nigeria’s main food crop, is one of the most at risk from climate change.
Fagbuji explained that farming makes up 25% of Nigeria’s economy but also produces 33% of its greenhouse gases—mostly from methane in rice fields.
He warned that without new ways of farming, Nigeria will face more food shortages and higher emissions. That’s why projects like CORE are so important.
He said using methods like alternate wetting and drying, better seed types, and low-emission irrigation can lower methane, boost crop yields, save water, and help rural communities.
Fagbuji called on both government and private groups to invest in climate-smart farming and help expand the CORE project to more rice-growing areas across Nigeria.
