The National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) has advocated for provision of insurance coverage for farmers to mitigate the devastating impact of climate change on food security.
Prof. Yusuf Sani, Director of NAERLS, said this during the National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in Zaria.
The Director said that policymakers must prioritise funding for climate-resilient agricultural initiatives and ensure that farmers have access to affordable inputs and improved insurance coverage against climate risks.
He noted that the improved insurance could incentivise farmers to adopt climate resilient practices and enable the farmers to reduce risks associated with climate related disasters.
“Climate change is no longer a distant reality; its impacts are here, reshaping ecosystems, altering rainfall patterns, and threatening food security across the globe.
“For a nation like Nigeria where agriculture contributes significantly to GDP and employs over 70 per cent of the rural population, the stakes could not be higher,” he said.
The director said that the challenges were particularly devastating for smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of food production.
“Without proactive measures, climate change threatens not just food security but the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians,” he said.
Sani, therefore, appealed for stronger partnerships with universities, research institutions, and other key players towards developing locally adapted and globally competitive innovations to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Earlier, Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said the global climate crisis has left no sector untouched, adding that agriculture, which forms the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, was vulnerable.
He noted, that across Nigeria, farmers were feeling the impacts of erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and extended dry spells.
According to him, these climatic changes threaten food security, rural livelihoods, and progress toward sustainable development.
“In the light of these realities, the theme of this meeting, “The Climate Change: Rethinking Agric Research, Extension, and Cropping Pattern in Nigeria,” could not be more timely or relevant.
“It calls upon us to rethink not only how we produce and distribute food but also how we conduct research, deliver extension services, and support our farmers in the face of new environmental challenges,” he noted.
The V-C said as a leading institution of higher learning and research, ABU was committed to driving impactful agricultural research that addresses the evolving needs of farmers and communities.
By Mustapha Yauri
