Reduced Methane Rice Production Final Report LINKS — Catalysing Economic Growth in Northern Nigeria – June 2023

Background (Read Full Paper Here: LINKS report on methane)

Rice is a major crop of concern in climate smart agriculture as a contributor to 15-20% of total global anthropological methane emissions, and overall rice farming accounts for around 2.5% of all global human induced GHG emissions, making its climate footprint comparable to that of international aviation. In Nigeria, rice is a staple food with consumption of over 8 million metric tonnes per annum, the most in Africa and demand is forecast to increase. However, only about 4.9 million MT per annum (2019) is produced with plans to increase production. Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a climate-smart practice that increases the productivity
of rice and reduces its methane emissions (by between 22% and 64%). SRI uses a cultivation system of alternate wetting and drying that creates aerobic soil conditions that reduce the production of methane. It also can potentially increase farmer incomes whilst reducing GHG emissions. “Low carbon rice” also has the potential, in future, to sell at a premium in niche markets, and/or to become a requirement for procurement of large-scale feeding programmes. The SRI methodology is based on four main principles that interact with each other: Early, quick, and healthy plant establishment Reduced plant density Improved soil conditions through enrichment with organic matter Reduced and controlled water application Despite the benefits of SRI having been demonstrated in over 60 countries, it had not been demonstrated at any scale in Northern Nigeria. It utilizes different techniques to the traditional norms and widespread adoption in Nigeria has required farmers to be trained in these new techniques and be convinced of the benefits.