Promoting sustainable agricultural practices is essential for long-term prosperity in Nigeria, where agriculture contributes about 21% of the GDP and supports more than 70% of the population. However, achieving this goal requires deliberate, well-structured government policies that foster responsible farming, efficient resource utilisation, and climate resilience. 

This article explores how government policies in Nigeria can support the transition towards more sustainable agricultural practices.

1. Strengthening climate with agricultural policies

Climate change significantly threatens Nigeria’s agricultural sector, exacerbating irregular rainfall patterns, drought, flooding, and soil degradation. To mitigate these effects, the government must prioritise climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in its policy framework. CSA involves integrating agricultural practices that are both adaptive to climate change and sustainable in the long term. Some policy initiatives could include:

• Promoting agroforestry to capture carbon, improve soil health, and support biodiversity.
• Encouraging crop diversification to minimise risks and improve resilience to changing climatic conditions.
• Incentivising water-efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, to reduce reliance on erratic rainfall.
• Subsidising sustainable farming practices, such as reduced tillage, mulching, and organic farming methods, reduces emissions.

2. Implementing land use and soil management policies

Soil degradation, driven mainly by overuse of land and poor farming practices, significantly impacts agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Effective soil management is essential to maintaining soil fertility, preventing erosion, and enhancing crop yields. The Nigerian government can adopt several policies to promote sustainable land use. Some of these include:

• Strengthening land tenure security to encourage farmers to invest in long-term soil health  can be achieved by formalising land ownership systems and ensuring farmers can access legal frameworks that protect their rights.
• Implementing land restoration projects to rehabilitate degraded areas, including incentives for reforestation and agroecological farming techniques.
• Promoting conservation tillage and using cover crops to prevent soil erosion, improve soil structure, and boost organic matter content.
• Providing education and extension services that help farmers adopt best practices in soil conservation, such as using organic fertilisers and crop rotation.

3. Supporting access to sustainable farming inputs

Many Nigerian farmers rely on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides that harm soil health and the environment. The government must ensure farmers can access alternative inputs to shift towards more sustainable practices and help reduce the environmental damage caused by harmful agrochemicals. Policies that support sustainable agricultural inputs could include:

• Subsidising organic fertilisers and promoting their use over chemical alternatives.
• Incentivising the production and use of bio-pesticides that reduce the impact on non-target species and the environment.
• Creating partnerships with agribusinesses to ensure the availability of eco-friendly farming technologies, such as low-energy machinery and greenhouses.
• Providing grants and financial support for farmers to transition to eco-friendly farming methods, particularly in rural areas with limited knowledge and resources.

4. Improving water management policies

Water is a vital resource in agriculture, and its availability and quality are directly linked to crop productivity. However, Nigeria faces significant challenges related to water scarcity, particularly in the northern regions. The government can address this by implementing effective water management policies that promote efficient use of water resources:

• Promoting rainwater harvesting and the construction of water reservoirs to reduce dependency on unpredictable rainfall.
• Investing in large-scale irrigation systems, especially in drought-prone regions, and encouraging the adoption of water-efficient irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation.
• Implementing regulations on water usage to prevent the excessive extraction of water from rivers and groundwater sources will ensure the preservation of water resources for future generations.
• Developing community-based water management systems that allow local farmers to manage and distribute water effectively across agricultural communities.

5. Enhancing agricultural finance and risk mitigation policies

The transition to sustainable agriculture often requires significant investment, which can be a challenge for many farmers, especially smallholders. The Nigerian government can support this transition by improving access to finance and providing risk mitigation tools such as:

• Affordable credit for farmers who wish to adopt sustainable practices, such as purchasing eco-friendly equipment or transitioning to organic farming.
• Crop insurance schemes that cover risks associated with climate change, such as droughts and floods.
• Green financing mechanisms, such as loans for environmentally sustainable agriculture projects, to encourage private sector investments in eco-friendly practices.
• Risk-sharing partnerships between the government and financial institutions to reduce the financial risks associated with adopting innovative and sustainable agricultural technologies.

6. Encouraging research and innovation in sustainable agriculture

Research is critical in developing innovative solutions to the agricultural sector’s challenges. Therefore, the government must prioritise research and innovation to drive the adoption of sustainable practices. Key policy actions might include:

• Investment research focused on developing climate-resilient crop varieties, organic farming techniques, and precision agriculture technologies.
• Creating partnerships between research institutions, agribusinesses, and farmers to facilitate the adoption of new technologies and techniques.
• Establishing innovation hubs where farmers can learn about and test new farming techniques, such as regenerative agriculture and agroecology.

Sustainable agriculture is essential for Nigeria’s long-term food security, environmental health, and economic development. To achieve this, the Nigerian government must adopt and implement policies that promote climate-smart practices, efficient resource management, and resilience against climate change.