Agriculture specialists have urged Nigerian farmers to embrace climate-smart methods and sustainable soil practices as a proactive way to reduce the effects of climate change on food production. The appeal came during a Climate-Smart Agriculture and Agroecology Training Workshop for rural women farmers organised by the International Centre for Environmental Health and Development under its “Grassroots-Driven Climate Action by Rural Women Farmers in Nigeria” programme. The two-day event took place at the Lagos Water Corporation facility in Iju and drew more than 100 participants from across the South-West.
Sessions focused on restoring soil fertility with locally sourced materials, encouraging organic cultivation, and improving farm output. Attendees were taught how to make compost and organic pesticides using vegetable waste, neem leaves, garlic, dry grass, and animal manure. They also learned water-efficient irrigation methods such as drip systems and solar-powered pumping. Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji — represented by ministry official Johnson Olusola — said Lagos faces mounting environmental pressures including flooding, intense rainfall, rising heat levels, and coastal erosion that endanger farming activities.
He explained that floods damage infrastructure, wipe out crops, pollute water sources, and strip away fertile topsoil, while shoreline erosion caused by sea level rise and human activity continues to threaten coastal livelihoods. Gaji added that the state government is strengthening climate resilience by mainstreaming climate policies across sectors and backing grassroots food system initiatives. He described climate-smart agriculture and agroecology as key to boosting yields and limiting climate-related losses.
Olayinwole Onasanyan, a member of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria and a retired permanent secretary, highlighted the need for updated farming approaches. He noted that tropical soils often lack sufficient organic content, making balanced soil nourishment essential. He advised farmers to adopt precision agriculture, climate-smart systems, and sustainable methods, stressing the importance of combining organic and inorganic fertilizers to preserve soil quality, which he described as the backbone of farm productivity. He also called on authorities to expand farmer support through extension services, training programmes, and targeted subsidies, alongside increased funding for research and small-scale irrigation. He added that many farmers still have limited awareness of climate change impacts.
Onasanyan further emphasised the vital role women play in agriculture, noting that empowering them is central to achieving lasting food security nationwide. Consulting Partner at ICEHD, Ndudi Bowei, said the workshop aimed to equip women farmers with hands-on adaptation skills. She explained that women often feel climate impacts more deeply because of their close connection to natural resources and major role in food production.
Bowei said the multi-year initiative, active across Nigeria for about four years, receives support from partners including the Rose of Sharon Foundation, ICEHD, African Women’s Development Fund, and African Climate Justice Movement. She added that beneficiaries would receive farm tools such as solar irrigation pumps, sprinklers, and organic inputs at no cost, and were encouraged to form cooperatives to strengthen their economic influence.
She expressed hope that participants would build networks, exchange knowledge, and organise cooperatives to improve access to resources and public support. Bowei noted that the broader objective is to strengthen household food supply, improve climate resilience, and reduce gender-based economic gaps in farming. The second day featured technical and practical sessions, starting with a lecture on vegetable cultivation techniques and pest and disease control delivered by agronomist Durojaiye Olusegun, who shared methods for improving harvests and cutting crop losses.
Participants also joined a practical demonstration led by Bukola Toyin Sadiku of the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority, focusing on producing compost and organic pesticides from local materials. Ahead of irrigation rollout, selected delegates from Iju, Epe, Ikorodu, and the Rose of Sharon Widows group received training on assembling and operating solar-powered irrigation pumps to enable year-round farming.
The programme wrapped up with the distribution of agricultural equipment including solar irrigation pumps, garri processing machines, fish kilns, knapsack sprayers, watering cans, sprinklers, organic pesticides, compost, and seeds. Participants welcomed the training and support packages, saying the intervention would enhance their farming methods, increase productivity, and improve their economic wellbeing.
Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/
