The University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Imo State, has launched the Agripollinex Project to promote pollinator conservation, sustainable agriculture and climate resilience among farmers.
The initiative was unveiled during the launch of the Agripollinex Project and Farmers and Extension Workers Needs Assessment held at the university.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, emphasised the importance of improving farmers’ understanding of pollinator biodiversity, sustainable farming practices and climate resilience.
Eze encouraged agricultural and environmental experts participating in the workshop to use the opportunity to gain and share practical knowledge that could improve farming practices and contribute to increased food production.
He also appreciated the Global Center on Biodiversity for Climate for supporting the project, describing it as a significant initiative capable of promoting modern and sustainable agriculture in Imo State and beyond.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Francis Madu, said the initiative focuses on assessing and conserving pollinator biodiversity as a way of supporting sustainable agriculture and helping farmers adapt to climate change.
Madu explained that pollinators play a crucial role in agricultural production by transferring pollen from the male part of flowers to the female part, enabling fertilisation and the production of fruits and seeds in many crops.
He warned that the decline in pollinator populations could threaten food production, particularly as the use of pesticides and insecticides, habitat destruction, changing farming practices and climate change continue to affect pollinator populations.
According to him, a reduction in pollinators could result in lower fruit and seed production, potentially affecting farmers incomes and food security.
He said the farmers needs assessment was designed to identify and introduce practical measures that could be adopted on farms to conserve pollinators and increase their populations.
Madu disclosed that the project would be implemented across 60 farms in Imo, Ogun and Nasarawa states, with 20 farms selected from each state.
He explained that the selected farms would comprise intervention and control sites, as well as reference or pilot farms, allowing researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and monitor changes in pollinator biodiversity.
The project is expected to generate evidence-based approaches for protecting pollinators while improving agricultural productivity, supporting farmers livelihoods and strengthening Nigeria’s food systems against climate and environmental challenges.
