Stakeholders from the agriculture sector have initiated a policy framework to promote agroecology practices as a means of mitigating the ravaging effect of climate change in Nigeria.
The stakeholders made this known in Abuja at a National Policy Dialogue on agroecology organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.
Speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar said the aim of the dialogue was to provide support to family farms in an agroecological transition that strikes a balance between economic performance, food security, strengthening of resilience, preservation of the environment and the health of the population.
Represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Frank Kudla, the minister called on relevant stakeholders to take advantage of the dialogue to explore and identify possible areas of collaboration to make Nigeria’s agriculture stand out in Africa.
In his remarks, the Director, Projects Coordinating Unit (PCU), Dr Lawal Daura said it had become imperative to explore the possibilities and options open to agricultural stakeholders in mitigating the deteriorating impact of climate change and environmental degradation.
Read Also: Financial market experts advocate forex policy reforms
He said the issue of climate change which everyone is aware of has necessitated the need for practical options to balance up the ecosystem.
“Thinking along this line of conserving our natural environment while still maximising the productive potentials, it becomes imperative to explore the possibilities and options open to agricultural stakeholders in mitigating the deteriorating impact of climate change and environmental degradation”, he said.
The Head of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Prof Lateef Sanni said the development and practice of agroecology is important to the growth of agriculture as it helps to protect, restore, and improve agriculture and food systems in the face of climate shocks and stressors.
According to him, agroecology promotes farming practices that mitigate climate change, reducing emissions, recycling resources, increasing yields, reducing environmental impacts and prioritising local supply chains.