The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has called on small-scale business owners to adopt climate-smart agriculture and green innovation to boost sustainable economic growth.
The Manager of SMEDAN’s Kaduna office, Badamasi Barau, made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during a monthly Climate Hangout organised by the climate change and environmental desk of the Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC).
Other partners included the African Climate Reporters (ACR) and the office of the Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor on Climate Change.
The theme of the hangout was “Empowering Entrepreneurs and SMEs Through Climate-Smart Agriculture, Green Innovation, Sustainable Trade, and Economic Growth.”
The Manager emphasised that environmental challenges such as irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, and flooding were directly impacting agricultural production and the entire food value chain.
“Our farmers are already experiencing changes in rainfall, rising temperatures, flooding, and other challenges that affect production. These challenges affect not only farmers but also food processors, traders, transporters, manufacturers, and even consumers.
“This is why we need to begin looking at agriculture differently. Climate-smart agriculture means finding better ways to produce food, manage resources, and run agricultural businesses while responding to changing climate conditions,” he said.
According to him, entrepreneurs should view climate change not merely as a hurdle but as a viable economic opportunity for enterprise development and job creation.
Barau urged business owners to explore sustainable practices, including the use of solar-powered equipment, efficient irrigation, improved farming techniques, proper storage, and converting agricultural waste into valuable products such as animal feed and compost.
He reaffirmed SMEDAN’s commitment to helping business owners navigate critical growth stages, including capacity building, business advisory services, formalisation, and establishing linkages with regulatory bodies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“What happens after the training is even more important than the training itself. Entrepreneurs need access to funding, markets, technology, business registration, mentoring, and strategic business connections,” he added.
He also stressed the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration among government bodies, financial institutions, private-sector actors, and development partners, while paying special attention to empowering youth and women in the MSME sector.
The Manager advised entrepreneurs not to wait for perfect conditions before starting operations, but to start small, identify local problems, keep accurate financial records, adopt technology, and adapt to changing market requirements.
“The future of our economy depends greatly on the strength of our small businesses. If we can build businesses that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and adaptable, we will create jobs, improve livelihoods, and strengthen our communities,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Samson Auta, a representative of IMC, said the gathering would continue to promote collaboration, generate actionable insights, and strengthen commitment toward inclusive economic growth that safeguards the environment for future generations.
Auta also urged participants, as people of faith, to take greater responsibility for protecting the environment and addressing climate-related challenges.
He said peace and stability were essential for people to develop and contribute innovative ideas capable of improving society.
In his remarks, Mr Ibrahima Yakubu, who represented African Climate Reporters, said the meeting was particularly significant because it focused on the relationship between climate change, markets, and economic activities.
