ICEED Launches Climate-Smart Agriculture Pilot to Boost Food Security in Borno

The International Center for Energy, Environment, and Development (ICEED), with support from the European Union, has launched a pioneering climate-smart agriculture (CSA) pilot in Borno State to address food insecurity and climate challenges. The project, targeting 12 communities in Konduga and Jere Local Government Areas, introduces an integrated farming system combining poultry, aquaculture, and vegetable production. This circular approach optimizes resources by repurposing waste—chicken manure fertilizes vegetable farms, while nutrient-rich water from fishponds supports irrigation. The initiative is part of a broader Climate Change Program aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience in Nigeria’s Northeast.

Through this pilot, local farmers receive essential resources, including heat-tolerant poultry breeds, catfish fingerlings, and drought-resistant vegetable seedlings, along with hands-on training in adaptive farming techniques. The model reduces input costs while improving productivity, ensuring that communities can sustain food production even in extreme weather conditions. Women and youth play a central role in implementation, receiving specialized training in climate risk management, water conservation, and sustainable land use. By integrating modern CSA techniques with indigenous farming knowledge, ICEED fosters long-term resilience against environmental and economic shocks.

Early results from the project indicate increased food production, reduced dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers, and improved household incomes through the sale of surplus produce. ICEED will continue monitoring the initiative’s impact over the next six months, gathering data on crop yields, economic benefits, and adoption rates. If successful, the pilot could serve as a model for scaling climate-smart agriculture across Nigeria and other regions facing similar climate-related challenges.