By Agrobroadcast Team
The Federal Government has announced concrete measures aimed at phasing out open-field burning and other outdated farming practices in favour of modern, climate-smart agricultural techniques that safeguard soil quality, boost productivity and cut harmful emissions.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, disclosed this in Abuja at the close-out workshop of the Abatement of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector project.
Speaking at the event, Ogunbiyi said the workshop, held under the theme “Local Action, National Impact: Building Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture,” went beyond marking the end of a project.
According to him, it represents a significant step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to address climate change through practical, farmer-focused and scalable agricultural solutions, particularly in curbing short-lived climate pollutants that threaten the environment, public health and food security.
He noted that the SLCP project, implemented by Self Help Africa in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), demonstrates how effective collaboration can translate international climate commitments into tangible local outcomes.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ogunbiyi said Nigeria’s Climate Change Act of 2021 provides a strong legal and institutional foundation for low-emission, climate-resilient development and sustainable economic growth.
He explained that agriculture remains central to this framework, as the sector is both highly exposed to climate risks and a major source of methane and black carbon emissions.
“Nigeria’s revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) clearly identify agriculture as a priority sector for both mitigation and adaptation,” he said. “This includes reducing methane emissions, improving crop residue management and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.”
According to him, the SLCP Abatement Project directly aligns with these national goals and makes a measurable contribution to the implementation of Nigeria’s NDC roadmap.
Ogunbiyi further explained that short-lived climate pollutants particularly black carbon from open burning and methane from rice farming and livestock systems are among the strongest drivers of near-term global warming, making their reduction critical to Nigeria’s climate response strategy.