The UK government funded programme, Propcom+ has trained journalists from northern Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) reporting.
The country representative, Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode, during a three-day training held in Yola explained that the programme aimed at transforming Nigeria’s rural economy by addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges in the country’s food and land-use system.
She further explained that the programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is an eight-year (2023–2030) initiative designed to transform Nigeria’s agricultural and land-use systems into resilient and sustainable engines of growth.
According to her, the project will increase productivity, improve nutrition and food security, enhance climate resilience, pursue lower emissions, protect and restore nature.
She added that it will also tackle some of Nigeria’s underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity and reduce emissions in poor and fragile parts of Nigeria.
The country representative however, disclosed that Propcom+ aimed at increasing the incomes and climate resilience of 3.79 million poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria, 50% of whom will be women, through a “3Ps” approach of interlinked components, she said.
Dr. Ode reiterated that the programme also aimed at enabling smallholder farmers and rural enterprises to improve their incomes while adapting to climate pressures.
In his presentation titled, ‘the Role of Media in Climate-Smart Agriculture Reporting and Advocacy’, the lead facilitator Adam Alqali described journalists as “partners in resilience,” stressing that they must remain committed to reporting in an accurate, inclusive, and impactful way.
He noted that journalists hold the power to shape public discourse and influence policy, positioning them as key agenda setters for Nigeria’s climate-smart agriculture (CSA) future.
Alqali further advised participants to embrace engaging storytelling techniques when reporting on CSA.
The programme is delivering practical innovations that are transforming the livelihoods of Nigerian stakeholders, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
Among the innovations highlighted were the promotion of climate-smart, biofortified seeds through local outgrowers and the last-mile delivery of livestock vaccines using solar-powered fridges and trained Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs).
