As Nigeria faces growing climate challenges, adapting agriculture to these changes has become crucial in 2025. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events significantly impact Nigeria’s farming sector and food security. 

Recent events, such as the Kunini floods in Taraba State, which destroyed crops and displaced farmers, underscore the urgency. Yet, amid these challenges, sustainable adaptation strategies offer hope. 

These changes threaten crop yields, livestock health, and the livelihoods of farmers across the country. However, sustainable adaptation strategies offer hope, enabling Nigerian farmers to build resilience and secure food production in the face of climate change.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Nigerian Agriculture

Nigerian agriculture is already feeling the heat of climate change. Increasing temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns disrupt the growing seasons, resulting in reduced yields of staple crops such as maize, cassava, and rice. 

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised at the 2025 UNFCCC Forum: “The government is driving proactive policies in the agricultural sector that will improve sustainable agrifood systems, safeguard the climate, restore ecosystems, boost production, and secure dignified livelihoods for Nigerian farmers.

These impacts are not uniform; smallholder farmers, especially in poorer regions, suffer more due to limited resources and adaptive capacity. Research shows that the poorest farmers are least able to cope, thereby placing their food security at significant risk. 

This uneven effect underscores the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable adaptation measures in Nigeria’s farming communities.

Sustainable Adaptation Strategies for Nigerian Farmers

To overcome these challenges, Nigerian farmers are adopting several sustainable practices that enhance resilience and productivity:

• Crop Diversification and Switching to Drought-Tolerant Varieties: Many farmers are reducing their reliance on vulnerable cereal crops and shifting toward drought-resistant root and tuber crops, such as cassava. Diversifying crops helps spread risk and maintain income even when weather conditions are poor for certain plants.
• Improved Water Management: Techniques such as rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in rice farming conserve water, reduce irrigation costs and maintain yields. Sustainable soil and water management practices prevent erosion and improve soil fertility.
  Use of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices: CSA includes adopting better seed varieties that tolerate heat and pests, integrated pest management, minimal tillage, and agroforestry systems. These approaches improve farm productivity while reducing the environmental footprint and enhancing ecosystem services.
• Access to Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems: Empowering farmers with timely information on weather patterns helps them make informed decisions about planting and harvesting times, reducing losses from unforeseen climate events.
• Diversifying Livelihoods and Income Sources: Farmers are expanding into livestock holdings, non-farm activities, and value-added products to reduce their vulnerability. This income diversification serves as a buffer against climate shocks that affect crop production.

Role of Government and Policy Interventions

Sustainable adaptation requires supportive policies and investments. Experts call for:

Improved Extension Services and Farmer Education: Extension agents should intensify their efforts to educate farmers on climate risks and adaptive techniques through demonstrations, training, and various communication channels.

• Access to Finance and Inputs: Pro-poor interventions such as low-cost loans and subsidies for climate-resilient seeds, fertilisers, and water-saving technologies increase smallholders’ capacity to adapt effectively.
• Investing in Climate Infrastructure: Building irrigation systems, storage facilities, and transportation improves farmers’ resilience to climate impacts and enhances their market access.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaboration between government, private sector, and research institutions can drive innovation and scale up adaptive technologies and practices.

Failing to act will deepen food insecurity, push vulnerable populations into poverty, and destabilise livelihoods. Adapting agriculture to climate change helps protect Nigeria’s agricultural heritage, supports economic stability, and aligns with global commitments, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Early adoption of sustainable strategies can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.