Nigeria Launches Baseline GHG Emissions Study for Rice Sector Under the Rice CoP Seed Funding Initiative
In September last year, the African Climate Action Partnership launched a funding call to support the collection of baseline Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission data from paddy rice production across Africa. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Rice Community of Practice (CoP) to promote low-emission, climate-resilient rice farming on the continent. The aim is to better understand the sector’s contribution to GHG emissions, especially methane, and to inform more sustainable practices.
Following a competitive selection process, the seed funding was awarded to the Institute for Agricultural Research at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Their project will establish the first national baseline inventory of GHG emissions from rice farming in Nigeria and will run from May 2025 to July 2026.
The project is structured in three key phases. The first phase focused on detailed planning, site selection, and stakeholder engagement to ensure local relevance and support. This will be followed by the second phase, which centers on field data collection, gas sampling, and laboratory analysis. The final phase will involve data analysis, reporting, dissemination of findings, and the development of policy recommendations. As part of its methodology, the project will conduct baseline surveys with rice farmers, followed by gas sampling to monitor methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions across selected farm sites.
In addition, the project will build national capacity in GHG measurement techniques within rice-based systems, laying the foundation for ongoing monitoring, evidence-based policymaking, and the advancement of climate-smart agriculture. The data generated will play a critical role in shaping climate policy, guiding mitigation actions, and supporting Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Since the project’s launch, several foundational activities have been undertaken to ensure smooth and effective implementation. To further strengthen technical capacity, AfCAP and AfricaRice co-organised an institutional exchange between the research team and AfricaRice. This exchange provided valuable hands-on training in the use of static chambers and associated equipment for gas flux measurements, while also fostering collaboration in gas analysis, methodological guidance, and alignment with international best practices for GHG emission measurement in rice systems. In parallel, the team successfully developed and tested baseline survey tools, procured necessary equipment, and initiated the fabrication of IRRI-standard GHG sampling chambers to support field data collection.
To date, significant progress has been made in laying the groundwork, including engaging key stakeholders, building the technical capacity of researchers, developing survey tools, and preparing and assembling sampling equipment. With these foundational elements in place, the project team is now well-positioned to begin field deployment and generate the critical baseline data needed to support climate-smart rice production in Nigeria.