Farmers in Nigeria Pledge to End Bush Burning as Climate Change Hits Crops

ETINAN, Nigeria – Farmers in Akwa Ibom state have pledged to stop bush burning and plant more trees to fight climate change, experts warned that rising temperatures are already disrupting food production. At a World Environment Day event in Etinan, participants agreed to use “nature-based solutions”—methods that work with natural ecosystems—to protect their farms. These include planting trees to restore soil and using natural pest control instead of chemicals. Climate change is causing irregular rainfall and hotter weather, which damages crops and reduces harvests. The event organizers said local farmers must act now to secure their food supply. “We cannot ignore what is happening to our land,” one participant said. “Bush burning destroys the soil. We must change our methods.” The pledge marks a shift toward sustainable farming in a region where agriculture is the main source of income for most families.