Expert urges climate-smart practices to mitigate climate change
An environmental health specialist, Dr Festus Imuk, has called for the adoption of climate -smart practices to combat the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity.
He said the government should promote drought –resistant crops, improve irrigation, integrate renewable energy, and enhance farmer education and financial access.
Imuk made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. According to him, climate change is already reducing agricultural productivity in Nigeria and threatening rural livelihoods and food security.
“The effects occur through changes in rainfall, rising temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events. It cut across crops, livestock, fisheries, and farm incomes, and are especially severe because most Nigerian farming is rain-fed,” he said.
The expert said that promoting climate-smart agriculture would require developing and distributing improved seed varieties that can withstand extreme weather.
He said that crop rotation, agroforestry, and mixed farming should be encouraged to reduce risks.
‘’Government should further promote mulching, cover crops, and rainwater harvesting to maintain soil fertility and moisture, ‘’ he said.
The expert also called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to align with climate change agencies for coordinated action.
“Government should also establish climate information services to alert farmers about droughts, floods, and heat waves.
‘’Accordingly, deforestation should be prevented while promoting sustainable land management,’’he said.
Imuk said digital tools such as mobile apps for weather forecasts, pest alerts, and market prices should be encouraged for usage.
“Solar-powered irrigation and cold storage reduce emissions and improve resilience. Climate-friendly machinery reduces dependence on manual labour and increases efficiency,’’ he said.
Related to this topic:
