Recent participatory action research (PAR) conducted in Nigeria has confirmed overall improvement in agricultural productivity and climate resilience through agroecological initiatives.
Agroecological practices, rooted in ecological principles, indigenous knowledge, and farmer-led innovation, deliver measurable benefits in soil fertility restoration, yield stability, income diversification, improved nutrition, biodiversity conservation, and resilience to climate shocks.
The participatory action research conducted across four geopolitical zones of Nigeria – Southwest, Southeast, South-South, and North-Central Nigeria – demonstrates that agroecology is a viable, scalable, and socially inclusive pathway for climate-resilient agriculture.
The study report was launched in an advocacy meeting on 6th October in Abuja. This meeting, organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in collaboration with Environmental Rights Action, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Kebetcache Women Development Centre, had in attendance diverse stakeholders including farmers, CSOs, and representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security; Environment; Health and Social Welfare; and Education as well as the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria.
The event, tagged: Translating Evidence from Participatory Action Research into Policy Action, served as a platform for open dialogue between HOMEF, partners and key government stakeholders. It provided participants with an overview of the research findings and policy recommendations and created space for discussion on how the evidence may inform, complement, or strengthen ongoing government action on agriculture, climate adaptation, and food sovereignty.
The PAR report titled: Agroecological Pathways for Sustainable Smallholder Farming in Nigeria, was presented by the lead researcher, Prof. Adeoluwa Olugbenga, a Professor and Consultant/Trainer in Soil Fertility, Organic Agriculture, Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. As highlighted by Prof. Olugbenga, the research examined the social, economic, and environmental benefits of agroecological farming practices, documented existing farmer-led climate innovations that are already delivering results on the ground, and identified the systemic policy and institutional barriers that have constrained the widespread adoption of agroecology in Nigeria.
Among its key findings: over 90% of surveyed farmers observed improved soil fertility; more than 70% reported greater resilience to climate shocks such as drought and flooding; and nearly 50% experienced increased income through reduced input costs and better produce quality.
Crucially, the research underscores that smallholder farmers are not passive recipients of agricultural solutions but are active innovators whose indigenous knowledge and farmer-led practices represent a strategic resource for national climate adaptation.
Also speaking at the meeting, Joyce Brown, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes buttressed the need for a systemic transformation in Nigeria’s agriculture in order to effectively address the multi-faceted challenges of climate change, soil degradation, poverty, insecurity etc. She stressed that the deployment of GMOS in Nigeria is a false solution that portends severe implications on genetic and biological diversity, economic resilience and food sovereignty. Among other things, she advocated for the creation of seed banks in the different states across the federation to preserve indigenous seed varieties. Similarly, her presentation condemned the indiscriminate supply and use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers among farmers in Nigeria -noting that over 60% of active ingredients in commonly used brand are classified as highly hazardous and banned in their countries of origin. Her presentation underscored the need for national reorientation and adoption of an agroecological pathway for a sustain-able, just and resilient food system.
The event also featured a presentation on the process of development of a draft agroecology policy for Osun State. According to CAPPA’s Associate Director, Mr Olamide Martins, this process was highly inclusive and led by a technical committee formed by the Osun State Government. The document is in its final review stage. A similar process is ongoing in Kogi State and participants urge other states to follow suit to enable wide spread adoption of agroecology across the country.
The event concluded with the presentation of a policy brief based on the findings from the PAR to representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The policy brief translates the research evidence into concrete and actionable policy recommendations directed at national government. The brief makes a compelling case that Nigeria’s current agricultural and climate frameworks, while recognising the need for sustainable approaches, have insufficiently operationalised agroecology as a development priority. It recommends, among other things, the explicit mainstreaming of agroecology into Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the reform of extension systems toward participatory farmer-to-farmer learning, the redirection of public research funding, improved market and infrastructure development for agroecological produce, and the establishment of an inter-ministerial coordination platform for agroecology.
In addition to the key recommendations outlined above, the participants at the meeting emphasised the need for the Federal Government to effect a lasting solution to insecurity to allow farmers go back to their farms without terror; to ensure inclusion of agroecology in school curricula and encourage the setup of agroecological gardens in schools; to review policies and ensure better land tenure/ownership systems to encourage agroecology practice especially among women and youth.
