Tackling Global Challenges Through A Sustainable Agriculture: The InACC Project Impactful Results

© Destiny Edor RND MULTIMEDEA LTD

The Integrated Approach to Climate Change in Rice Production System (InACC) Project has successfully concluded in February 2025 with closeout events in Benue State Nasarawa State, and Abuja. 

The 3-years span project has demonstrated that addressing climate change in agriculture requires holistic, integrated solutions that link value chains and foster synergies across agricultural systems. 

The InACC Project has delivered transformative impacts on rural economic resilience while integrating the rice value and the livestock value chains. 

The GIAE NG-InACC project, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has been implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It is a component of the Green Innovation Centre for Agricultural and Food Sector, Nigeria (GIAE NG) 

Numerous life-changing results and steps to mitigate global climate change. 

• 27, 900 rice farmers including 43% women capacities built in climate-smart Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). 
• 150,000 tree seedlings (palm trees, bush mango, plantain/banana) distributed to integrate agroforestry in rice farms and enhance biodiversity and sustainability.  
• 58 MSMEs supported, leading to 31% income growth for farmers and a remarkable 284% income growth for agro-pastoralists. 
• 2,450  agro-pastoralists trained in Good Animal Husbandry Practices and 182 extension agents in sustainable agriculture. 

By introducing climate smart techniques to improve the income and productivity of rice farmers, such as new rice varieties, transplanting method, and organic manure production using rice straws and animal dung, the project contributed to advancing agroforestry. It also enhanced farmer support systems at state and federal levels hence strengthening Agricultural Extension Services. 

Its impact in livestock health and productivity were obtained through mass vaccination campaigns, the introduction of silage and hay techniques for feed and the promotion of organic manure production. 

Some unintended project results include the ‘Climate Resilience Index’ developed, which enables a standardized, practical, and transparent assessment of climate resilience for smallholder farmers and the training of persons living with disabilities (PWD). 

With the interventions of the project in the agriculture and livestock sectors, the living conditions of a part of the vulnerable population have improved. Specifically, their resilience to climate shocks, contributing to a better future for the communities. 

Those interventions, moreover, contributed to global climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting sustainable land use practices. 

Conflict Resolution Through Innovation: Contributing to worldwide social stability 

A key innovation of the project has been the Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) methodology, developed in partnership with the Neem Foundation. The project established 32 working groups to address resource conflicts, and 87 resolutions to have a peaceful coexistence. By fostering dialogue between rice farmers and agro-pastoralists, RSD has played a crucial role in reducing conflicts, promoting peaceful coexistence, and strengthening social cohesion. In the dynamic of global fight against violence and armed conflict, this initiative contributes to global social stability and reduces migration pressures. 

Partnership, key for sustainability 

To sustain the InACC impacts by scaling these successes, the State institutions, stakeholders, and partners committed to expanding climate-smart agricultural innovations, strengthening micro enterprises and value addition. They are also determined to scale up the RSD methodology to support conflict resolution and collaboration. 

The outstanding good practices on the project are already being replicated in the implementation of two new projects by GIZ and its partners in Nigeria. 

With continued collaboration and commitment, we can drive lasting change in fostering social stability, reducing migration pressures and addressing climate change. 

Author: Larai Abdulkadir 

Contact: Ozman Altamirano