Sustainable practices enhance productivity and resilience in northern Nigeria Factsheet on the project Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in the Savanna Zones of Northern Nigeria (GEF ID 9143) implemented by UNDP with GEF and co-financing.  Highlights include challenges, results, the approach, lessons learned, and future plans.

SPARC's new documentary shines a spotlight on one of the most critical, but marginalised livelihoods in Africa – and paints a rarely seen picture of the dynamism of people living in the drylands.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces intertwined challenges of poverty, food insecurity, climate shocks, and conflict, particularly in the northeast, where over two million people have been displaced. In this context, communication is crucial for resilience and inclusive recovery, and this factsheet examines Nigeria’s media landscape to inform effective, context-sensitive...

Nigeria boasts one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, significantly contributing to its agricultural gross domestic product. However, the crucial pastoral production system which encompasses millions of pastoralists faces significant challenges due to climate change.

This book, Our Connection to Life: Multiple Lenses on Nigeria’s Small-Scale Fisheries, offers a deeply textured view of these vital fisheries. Its strength lies in the breadth of its vision. The volume brings together diverse voices – young thinkers, seasoned researchers, cultural historians, traditional knowledge holders, and policy analysts –...

The EU-funded PrAEctiCe project is developing a digital tool to improve smallholder farmers’ farming practices in East Africa. Through the decision support tool (DST), the project aims to shed light on agro-ecological practices in the region and help local farming communities tackle threats such as climate change, food insecurity and biodiversity...

In the lively markets of Niger and Nigeria, every grain of cowpea tells a story of survival and sustenance. Yet, these grains face a silent enemy: contamination from harmful chemicals used to keep insects at bay during storage. For farmers and families, the struggle to keep food safe without risking...

Aquaculture is a growing industry in Nigeria, playing a crucial role in enhancing food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. As fish farming grows, so does the demand for quality feed—an essential input that directly influences productivity and profitability. However, high feed costs remain a major challenge, with expenses accounting for 60%...

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has received the results of a comprehensive Livestock Sector Analysis (LSA) and an investment-focused Livestock Sector Strategy (LSS), two key deliverables in the development of Nigeria’s first-ever National Livestock Master Plan (NLMP). The presentation, recently held in Abuja, was the outcome of 24 months of...

The alliance of Sahel states have officially launched the Alliance of Agricultural Seed Producers of the Sahel (APSA-Sahel), a regional initiative aimed at achieving seed sovereignty and bolstering food security across the Sahel.

Globally, climate change is a topical environmental issue because of its impacts on ecosystems and communities. Rural farmers suffer most due to low incomes, technological/institutional capacity to adapt to these changes and greater reliance on climate-sensitive renewable natural resources like water. This study therefore investigated rural farmers’ water shortage coping...

Ensuring gender equality is a crucial aspect of achieving development goals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Policymaking stands as a key avenue through which governments can actively pursue gender-responsive development. In LMICs—where agriculture often plays a pivotal role in the economy, and rural livelihoods are closely tied to...

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and ActionAid Nigeria have launched a major national initiative, to accelerate the transition to sustainable farming practices, boost farmer livelihoods, and strengthen national food security. It involved working together on green job opportunities, including improving the livelihoods of rural youth, through the implementation of...

Farmers love to experiment, especially in trying out new crop varieties, even if it takes patience to get results. With cassava, for example, one has to wait months or even a couple of years to see what a new variety is like.  In 2015, the Nigerian Saint Paul Catholic Mission gave...

This guide is based on information from the Food Plants International (FPI) database developed by Tasmanian agricultural scientist Bruce French, AO. The source material and guidance for the preparation of the book has been made possible through the support of Food Plants International, the Rotary Clubs of District 9830, particularly...

The consumption of unhealthy and environmentally unsustainable diets is a major societal challenge because of its impacts on human health and the environment. The adoption of micronutrient-rich diets with relatively low pressure on natural resources is an important development target at the intersection between sustainability and public health goals. Pulses are known for being...

Knowledge sharing and co-creation for application offer pathways for the multidimensional challenges of food systems in West Africa which are to date still largely underexplored. They have the potential for the emergence of effective communities of practice to tackle some of the serious threats West African food systems face today,...

Numerous barriers hinder mobile information services in delivering information effectively to smallholder farmers. Many of these barriers can be explained by farmers’ habits in using their phones. Therefore, carefully considering how exactly farmers use their phones in specific local context is crucial to mitigate behavior-related barriers. We describe 18 potential...

Multi-stakeholder platforms are uniting smallholder farmers, businesses, communities and governments to drive positive change in Nigeria’s palm oil sector. Through community driven advocacy, Nigerians are working to protect the environment, while creating a sustainable and thriving future for the palm oil sector.

In response to the pressing need for innovative solutions to address food security challenges, a Tripartite Cooperation Agreement between FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa region, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) initiated a comprehensive “Mapping exercise of affordable...