Germany Launches €117m Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative, Targets 12,000 Rice Farmers in Nigeria

The German Government has inaugurated the Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE) Project to support 12,000 smallholder farmers in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kano States with the objective of promoting climate-smart rice cultivation and linking farmers to carbon markets.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ in partnership with Olam Agri, the three-year pilot project (2024–2027) is structured to reduce methane emissions from rice paddies while strengthening innovation and resilience in Nigeria’s rice sector.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, represented by Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission, said the initiative would empower farmers to directly benefit from climate action while enhancing sustainable agricultural practices.

“There is an urgent need for practical steps to reduce emissions and strengthen the resilience of agriculture, given the escalating impacts of climate change,” she stated.

Günther highlighted Germany’s commitment to climate finance, noting that in 2023, the country contributed €9.94 billion globally, leveraging public funds to attract private climate financing through structured funds, revolving credit lines, and public-private partnerships.

She added that BMZ, alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Union, has committed €117 million to its agricultural portfolio in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.

According to Alexis Brakhan, GIZ Implementation Manager for the CORE Project, the initiative will introduce alternate wetting and drying techniques, biochar application, and low-emission irrigation methods to improve yields, conserve water, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Paul Nicholson, Senior Vice President of Rice at Olam Agri, described the project as a model that integrates food security with sustainability. “Carbon credits give farmers a stake in climate action, rewarding their adoption of climate-smart agriculture,” he said.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, Olamide Fagbuji, stressed the urgency of the programme, noting that Nigeria loses approximately $100 million annually to climate-induced flooding, with rice being one of the most climate-vulnerable crops.

He stated that agriculture contributes 25% to Nigeria’s GDP but accounts for 33% of national greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from rice cultivation.

“The CORE project provides a scalable model to tackle both food insecurity and rising emissions,” Fagbuji said, urging public and private investors to expand climate-smart agriculture nationwide.

The project is expected to transform rice production into a sustainable, low-carbon system while providing Nigerian farmers with access to carbon credit revenues, thereby strengthening food security, employment, and long-term sector growth.