The University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Imo State, has launched the Agripollinex Project, an initiative aimed at conserving pollinator biodiversity and strengthening sustainable agriculture and climate resilience among farmers.
The project was unveiled during the launch of the “Agripollinex Project and Farmers’ and Extension Workers Needs Assessment” held at the university hall.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of UAES, Prof. Christopher Eze, stressed the need to deepen farmers’ knowledge of pollinator biodiversity, sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience to improve farming outcomes.
Eze urged agricultural and environmental experts participating in the workshop to maximise the opportunity to acquire and share practical knowledge that could benefit farmers and strengthen food production.
He also commended the Global Center on Biodiversity for Climate for supporting the initiative, describing the project as an important intervention capable of advancing modern and sustainable agricultural practices in Imo State and beyond.
The Principal Investigator of the project, Francis Madu, explained that its central focus was the assessment and conservation of pollinator biodiversity as a means of promoting sustainable agriculture and building resilience to climate change.
Madu described pollinators as an essential but often overlooked component of agricultural ecosystems, explaining that they facilitate the transfer of pollen from the anther, the male part of a flower, to the stigma, the female part, thereby enabling fertilisation and the production of fruits and seeds by many crops.
He warned that declining pollinator populations in Africa and other parts of the world could pose serious risks to food production, noting that activities such as indiscriminate use of pesticides and insecticides, destruction of natural habitats, changing agricultural practices and climate change were contributing to the decline.
According to him, reduced pollinator populations could lead to lower fruit and seed production in crops that depend on pollination, with potential consequences for farmers’ incomes and food security.
He said the farmers’ needs assessment workshop was designed to introduce practical interventions that could be implemented on farms to conserve pollinator biodiversity and increase pollinator populations.
Madu disclosed that the project would cover 60 farms across Imo, Ogun and Nasarawa states, with 20 farms selected in each state.
He explained that the farms would include intervention and control sites, alongside reference or pilot farms, which would enable the project team to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and compare changes in pollinator biodiversity across the different farm categories.
The initiative is expected to provide evidence-based approaches for protecting pollinators while improving agricultural productivity, supporting farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening food systems against environmental and climate-related challenges.
